Letters From War
Author: aynat
Summary: Rory finds some old letters she'd kept hidden... and tries to come to terms with the fact that they stopped. Abruptly.
Spoilers: From beginning to end.
Disclaimer: Nope, not mine... just trying to keep my head held high now that it's all over.
Author's Note: This story does not reflect my views of the war in either Iraq or Afghanistan. I tried to keep this story as unbiased from my views as possible and tried to keep to what the characters would be feeling. Please do not flame me for what you believe my views are because of this story.
Dear Rory,
Mark is dead. I watched him take a shot to the head from a sniper. It was terrible. I'm trying to imagine Suzy's reaction when she recieves word, they were so close. I wish I could be there for her, but I woudn't be much good anyways. I'm a wreck. Soldiers aren't supposed to cry so I'm trying to keep everything bottled up, but I just lost my best friend. I don't know what to do.
I feel so lost and alone,
Tristan
Rory wiped the tears off her cheek as she read Tristan's words. He had spoken of Mark so often she felt she knew him. She thought back to the time he'd even included a note with one of Tristan's letters and laughed. He had seemed like such a fun loving guy. And now he was gone, and Tristan was hurting and she was sitting in Stars Hollow with no way to help.
Then she dropped the letter as her breath caught in her throat. Tristan was there when it had happened, he'd watched it. What miracle occured that made the bullet miss him? Never before had the thought crossed her mind that he might not come back from the horror he was in over there. Never before as she considered the possibility.
As she opened that old drawer again and pulled out all his old letters she felt her eyes burn as she tried to keep more tears from falling. She looked at the envelopes that she'd spilled in front of her, dozens of them. She wondered if he kept all the letters she'd written in return.
Then, quickly, she grabbed the envelope she was looking for. It was a letter she'd recieved about six months ago. Just a quick note saying his tour of duty had been extended and he no longer knew when he was coming home. It wasn't the letter she wanted though. Tucked inside was a photo of Tristan with his shaved head and army greens standing next to another soldier, who was slightly taller and more muscular. It was Mark.
Rory looked him over, from his dark hair shaved short, to his blue eyes. She had always loved this photo because the two men seemed to be in good spirits, arms around each other. They were obviously close.
On the back Tristan had written a few simple words. I couldn't make it without him.
As Rory took a notepad from her desk to write him back she froze. What could she say to help him through this? Nothing. There was nothing to say. Putting down her notepad she took and envelope and slipped the photo inside and sealed it.
