Evelyn stared at the inventory list for a full minute before her mind began
to register the long line of numbers in front of her. Even as her eyes
focused, her attention began to wander again – flitting from Rafe to Danny
and back again. She closed her eyes and rested her head in the palm of her
hands, trying to think clearly.
She had the most impossible choice in the world to make. To choose between the present and the past was harder than she had guessed.
Rafe would always be the most special person she had ever met. When she was with him, she had felt more alive than ever before – more alive than she ever hoped to feel again. Rafe's confident exterior betrayed him; most would simply write him off as another ambitious young pilot, struggling to live out his dream of becoming a hero, his dream to matter in the world. But there was more to Rafe, much more. He felt things, he saw things, and he sensed things that were invisible to any normal human being. Invisible even to Danny, and at times to her as well.
His troubles with words balanced out with the strength of Rafe's emotions. She knew he loved her, she had never doubted it. And she knew she couldn't ever deny her feelings in return.
Being with Danny was something completely different. Danny was gentler, quieter, more easygoing. He was also a dreamer. She had caught his eyes staring at nothing so many times that she knew there was always a conversation going on inside of him. But it was one he rarely let anyone in on.
Danny had gone through many things in his life, and she could see the mark it had on him. He had an old soul in a young body, because he experienced war in some ways already. She knew that he had primed himself not only on the outside, but on the inside as well for the imminent war.
That wasn't the only reason Danny had put in so many flight hours lately. He was still trying to escape from his deep sadness about Rafe.
Evelyn wondered if he felt the same uneasiness she did, the twinges of guilt that still splintered their love. At times she still felt like it had to be wrong for her to feel joy when Rafe was gone and would never return. She wondered about Rafe's promise, and her unspoken vow in return. She would wait for him – but he wouldn't want her to give up living for him. However many times she repeated the reassurance to herself, she couldn't overcome that niggling feeling that she shouldn't allow herself to care about Danny.
But she couldn't help it. His presence was the only thing that had made her feel whole since Rafe's death. His spirit was the only thing that could fill the gaping hole inside her. He was always tender toward her, never pushing her too far.
But how could she give up Rafe? How could she ever forget what he meant to her?
She inhaled deeply and shoved the meaningless inventory list away from her. As she opened the drawer, she caught sight of the paper crane Rafe had folded for her so long ago. Carefully, she held it in front of her, wary not to bend the wings. It was so delicate. Free, beautiful, noble, graceful – but fragile. A single person could easily shred it to pieces.
Please. Don't take my wings away.
Her heart stopped as she glimpsed a shadow outside her window. A military hat. A strong, chiseled face with bright eyes that almost looked like a ghost.
Rafe.
In an instant she knew her instinct was telling her the truth. It felt like a bomb had exploded inside of her. She would have to choose now, between two men she loved. Two she couldn't ever change her feelings for. Two best friends.
Rafe opened the door.
She had the most impossible choice in the world to make. To choose between the present and the past was harder than she had guessed.
Rafe would always be the most special person she had ever met. When she was with him, she had felt more alive than ever before – more alive than she ever hoped to feel again. Rafe's confident exterior betrayed him; most would simply write him off as another ambitious young pilot, struggling to live out his dream of becoming a hero, his dream to matter in the world. But there was more to Rafe, much more. He felt things, he saw things, and he sensed things that were invisible to any normal human being. Invisible even to Danny, and at times to her as well.
His troubles with words balanced out with the strength of Rafe's emotions. She knew he loved her, she had never doubted it. And she knew she couldn't ever deny her feelings in return.
Being with Danny was something completely different. Danny was gentler, quieter, more easygoing. He was also a dreamer. She had caught his eyes staring at nothing so many times that she knew there was always a conversation going on inside of him. But it was one he rarely let anyone in on.
Danny had gone through many things in his life, and she could see the mark it had on him. He had an old soul in a young body, because he experienced war in some ways already. She knew that he had primed himself not only on the outside, but on the inside as well for the imminent war.
That wasn't the only reason Danny had put in so many flight hours lately. He was still trying to escape from his deep sadness about Rafe.
Evelyn wondered if he felt the same uneasiness she did, the twinges of guilt that still splintered their love. At times she still felt like it had to be wrong for her to feel joy when Rafe was gone and would never return. She wondered about Rafe's promise, and her unspoken vow in return. She would wait for him – but he wouldn't want her to give up living for him. However many times she repeated the reassurance to herself, she couldn't overcome that niggling feeling that she shouldn't allow herself to care about Danny.
But she couldn't help it. His presence was the only thing that had made her feel whole since Rafe's death. His spirit was the only thing that could fill the gaping hole inside her. He was always tender toward her, never pushing her too far.
But how could she give up Rafe? How could she ever forget what he meant to her?
She inhaled deeply and shoved the meaningless inventory list away from her. As she opened the drawer, she caught sight of the paper crane Rafe had folded for her so long ago. Carefully, she held it in front of her, wary not to bend the wings. It was so delicate. Free, beautiful, noble, graceful – but fragile. A single person could easily shred it to pieces.
Please. Don't take my wings away.
Her heart stopped as she glimpsed a shadow outside her window. A military hat. A strong, chiseled face with bright eyes that almost looked like a ghost.
Rafe.
In an instant she knew her instinct was telling her the truth. It felt like a bomb had exploded inside of her. She would have to choose now, between two men she loved. Two she couldn't ever change her feelings for. Two best friends.
Rafe opened the door.
