A Hero Returns
Sean stepped off of the train; slowly taking in all the familiar smells and sights of Toronto. He couldn't believe that it had been two years since he had been there; while it had felt like an eternity since he had been at their home. Home, it was what kept him sane in Iraq. Her face, her smile, her touch, her smell and her everything, he thought of nothing else. Sean unlocked the door to their one bedroom house, walked in looking for her but found an envelope, her wedding ring and a bill of divorcement on the kitchen table instead. He picked the envelope, opened it and read:
August 2009
My Dearest Sean,
Oh how I miss you. The smell of you when I wake up is now gone from our bed. I no longer feel the security that I felt when I was around you; you are ALWAYS going to be close to my heart. Because of you I live. Sean, you saved my life in more ways than one. When Rick pointed the gun at me in tenth grade; I was frightened out of my skin. I seriously thought that my life was over. But then, you, my knight in shining denim, came and saved me. When you came back from Wasaga, you helped to heal my soul. You picked up my broken pieces and saved me. But, I need a change. I need to spread my wings and fly. I am enrolling in the University of Toronto; after I graduate I will be moving to California. I will probably end up working for an environmental agency. Don't come looking for me. I'm not asking for a divorce; I know how much that would kill you; just that you let me find myself. After loosing our child, I know how much you wanted to be a father, I felt lost. I know some day you will make a great father. We were too young. I just need a new life. You know that I always need to be doing something; I wouldn't be your Emma if I didn't. I hope that this note reaches you safe. I have been watching the news, so… I know you are safe. I want you to know that I don't hate you for what happened. I will always cherish what we had. But for now I need to get away. This place has too many memories of you and I am tired of being pitted. I can't just sit around and wait for you. One day, perhaps, we'll meet again, 'till then I just need to live.
Love Forever,
Emma Christen Nelson-Cameron
Upon finishing the letter he cried; there he remained, curled up on the cold wooden floor in agony. He picked up the ring and studied it: wondering what happened, how had he lost her? He picked up the bill of divorcement. The note attached read:
August 2010
I know I said I wouldn't do this to you, but I need to move on. I need to live my life. I need to be me. Manny told me you were coming home this month. I hope you are well, that no harm came to you. I don't know what I would have done if I lost you.
Yours,
Emma Christen Nelson
As much as it killed Sean to read this; he knew that there was still hope. He sighed and whispered "I'm not letting you go that easily, Babe". He put the bill of divorcement back in the mail box with a note attached: "Please return to sender".