Chapter Thirty - Five
Vale amor — 'Goodbye my love'
April 1st 1989
10.09am
Henry stood in the middle of the open tarmac road. Down in the distance was the plane that was due to take him on his first deployment. He looked around at all the other marines stood around, some with colleagues, some with loved ones saying goodbye, some stood alone like him. He glanced up at the sky and smiled as the sun fell upon his face. Spring had washed in like the tide over the last few days, from new vibrant hues of the pansies that gently swayed in the light air to the wintry winds that fiercely demanding a return to the bitterness of the winter months before, the constant change in direction was something Henry could resonate with well.
As he stood alone his mind was consumed by thoughts of Elizabeth. Somedays he was able to convince himself that he made the right decision and so did she three weeks ago, but other days; like today — he wanted to run to her and shake her, beg for forgiveness and never leave her side. He closed his eyes as images of their times together flashed into his mind; vivid memories that he would carry forever. He shook his head and snapped himself from his thoughts as he picked up his bags and began to walk towards the plane.
He looked up at the hillsides towards the right of the airfield, he smiled to himself as he spotted a few people sat up on the greenery watching them. Some young kids running around and playing whilst the adults took a seat and enjoyed the views. Henrys heart ached at the site, months ago he had envisioned that being his future; Elizabeth being around with their kids as they said their goodbyes to him for a few months, but just like the spring weather things change rapidly and we cannot change what has been and gone.
'You Ready McCord?' One of the boys called as Henry approached them
'I think so' he replied nervously
'You'll get used to it, this is my fifth deployment, it does get a little easier' another smiled and patted him on the back and Henry nodded
'Do they do that often?' He asked pointing towards the people watching as he wanted to change the subject
'Yes, everyday actually. There are always people sat watching, a mixture of kids wanting to see big planes, passers by going for a walk, loved ones tend to stand up there after they've said there goodbyes down here too' Henry nodded as his colleague spoke, he looked up and his body felt heavy, his chest pushed down into his heart as the pain of losing Elizabeth still cut him deep. She should be here, he kept thinking to himself, but then he was glad she wasn't at least that way she didn't have to watch him go.
'Time to go boys!' Henry's captain called out and they all fell into line, boarding the plane. Henry took his seat, his stomach churning and his palms sweaty as he watched the door close. He was full of excitement and nerves as well as sorrow; he was leaving Elizabeth behind, he knew that when he returned in a years time she wouldn't be around anymore. He felt the plane move slowly as it descended down the runway, gathering speed ready for take off.
'Goodbye Elibet' he whispered quietly to himself as the plane took off.
Elizabeth sat on the grassy verge taking in the spring air as her eyes cast over the beautiful scenery before her. She smiled as she watched young children play in the distance, the sound of laughter intoxicating her and warming her heart just like the spring sunshine. It didn't take long for Elizabeths smile to fade as thoughts of Henry slipped back into her mind.
She had spent the last three weeks agonising over him; hoping he would come to her and fight for her, or that she would bump into him. Every evening she had left UVA for the last few days she had walked the long way home just to pass his apartment, hoping she would see him, tell him she had made a mistake and forgiving him for lying is easier than living without him; but no such luck. Elizabeth gathered he had gone home to Pittsburgh, and the thought of contacting them crossed her mind but she couldn't do it.
Elizabeth pulled her legs up into her body as she over analysed every decision she had made over the last few weeks; she found it difficult to forget everything about him, the look that he would give her when he wanted her, the way he kissed her, the way he made her laugh, how he protected her from herself, how he loved her. She had realised he only lied to protect her, he didn't want to ruin their happiness; how could she be mad at that? Truth be told she just wanted him back in her life.
Elizabeth still clung on to that hope that he would find her right up until this very moment; deployment day. As she sat on the hillside she looked down of the runway and watched as all the Marines walked towards the aeroplane getting ready to leave. Her eyes fixated down onto a small group of men talking; she knew it was Henry stood pointing over in her direction, she would recognise him anywhere. When she seen him pointing her heart skipped a beat, for a moments she thought he recognised her and was point at her, but then reality hit her and she realised he was too far away, and he was pointing in her direction in general.
'Beautiful view isn't it?' An elderly woman asked taking a seat next to her. Elizabeth looked over and nodded at her
'I sit here for half an hour everyday, my George was in the marines, he passed away two years ago now, but somehow coming here helps me feel close to him still' she explained. Elizabeth didn't know how to respond so she just smiled sweetly at the woman
'You saying goodbye to anyone in particular?' The woman asked curiously. Elizabeth thought about it for a moment and looked back over to the air field
'No, No I already said my goodbye' came the sad reply. Silence fell between them as they watched the men pick up their bags and board the plane. Elizabeth suddenly felt uncomfortable, she stood up and excused herself as she left the woman who had joined her. Her pace quickened as she walked away, the tears forming in her eyes and the ache in her chest rising. Her breathing became a labile as she placed a hand on a tree to steady herself. She glanced back over her shoulder and watched as the plane gathered speed down the runway, her bottom lip trembled; he didn't come to find her. She had decided not to take the offer with the CIA, she couldn't do it just incase Henry came looking for her; he wouldn't know where to find her if she accepted the offer and had to move to DC imminently.
But as the plane took off and left the ground miles beneath them it didn't matter anymore, Elizabeth watched him fly out of her life; she knew from that moment on that she had to move on from Henry, he wasn't coming back for her. Her body shook as she drown in the pain of losing him.
'Goodbye Hank' she trembled as she closed her eyes, unable to watch that plane anymore.
But just like everything, sometimes the rest of our lives starts with goodbye. Mother Nature had to say goodbye to the snow, the storms and the icy paths so that spring could say hello; there is good in goodbye, it can breath new life into the world, just like springtime.
