CHAPTER THREE:

CHAPTER THREE: "Haunting Dreams of Evelyn and Rafe"

"You ever seen Pearl Harbor at sunset?"

"Well sure,"

"From the air?"

Danny watched her, his whole heart pounding at the sight of her. It was as if he was looking at her for the first time, yet he deep within his soul he knew her with his very being.

The scenery began to change. Danny smiled as he realized where he was. He was flying. He was up in the everlasting sky with her. She glanced back at him, her eyes shining with newly discovered love and joy. They began to talk as they enjoyed the vast beautiful view before them. Danny couldn't make out the exact words, for all he could really focus on was the moment itself. The moment and the feeling inside of him.

Instantly, he felt himself falling in love with her smile with her laugh with her face with her. He couldn't explain it, but this desire for her began to grow within him. This felt too much like a dream as he held her tight within his arms.

A name echoed in his heart. Her name. "Evelyn." His soul whispered. Danny felt her name being written into his very being. Written right next to another name that was just as sacred as Evelyn's. A sudden burst of guilt washed through him at the thought of his Meghan. Is it possible to love two women with his whole heart and soul?

Meghan was the only person Danny could only make room for in his heart. Yet now, Evelyn was all he could dream of. Could think of. Could truly want and hold entirely in his heart.

"This ain't no time to leave things unsaid gotta face facts, Danny. And the fact is, we both love the same woman."

He was back. That same voice that had called out to him before. The same voice that demanded Danny to take him to a plane. Only this time, the voice came with a face.

Danny was no longer with Evelyn. He was no longer holding her. Smelling her intoxicating scent, feeling her heart next to his. Instead, he found himself on a beach, sitting on a log next to another young man. Watching this stranger place some pieces of paper into a fire, tossing them in with such pensiveness and hesitation.

He was a striking young man that couldn't be over the age of twenty-five twenty-six? However, with his tired and weary eyes, his demeanor could fool anyone into thinking he was older than he truly was. This man regarded Danny. His own eyes so drained, so sad, yet was glimmering on the brink of brotherly love and admiration. It was then that Danny realized who this man was.

"Rafe" His mind spoke softly to himself. Was this the same man that was once a boy so full of life and spirit? It couldn't be! This man looked as if he'd been through hell and back, and was about to enter hell again. Yet, looking into his soft brown eyes, he saw a shadow of the young boy he had grown to love as a brother.

"Land of the free"

"Home of the brave." He heard himself echoing Rafe's patriotic sentiments.

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