Flashback.
Zack's point of view
I had to leave, they made me. I just
didn't fit in there. If it
weren't for Howie, I have no
doubt I would have been shipped back weeks before my
actual
departure. I couldn't believe that such an important man
would want to spend time with
me. I knew he would be coming by in
a bit, so I hurriedly started packing. I
didn't want to it
with him there.
An
hour later, Howie arrived and asked why I was packing, so I told
him. He
looked upset that I was leaving, but he looked even
more upset that I
berated
myself in front of him.
"Is
that what you really think, Zackaroni?" he asked. He had
devised the
nickname when he noticed that all I ever ate from the
mess hall was macaroni
cheese.
"Howie,
look at me. I have no social skills to speak of, I hide in
my
tent, the lab or even the mess tent. The only person I
classify as a friend is
you, and you have your own life." I
said, getting emotional at the thought of
alienating the only
friend I had managed to make while in Iraq.
The
next thing that Howie did, shocked me; he kissed me. And I
don't mean
on the cheek, he kissed me full on the lips. He kept
kissing me with a gentle
force that made me weak at the knees. We moved toward the camp bed where I had slept
the last 3 weeks,
Howie leaning over me as I lay on my back. He looked deep
into
my eyes, penetrating my soul, making me feel loved and special.
When
I woke an hour later, I was in Howie's arms; they felt so
strong
against my slight frame. I didn't want to leave him
but my flight was in an
hour. I dressed quickly, and before I
left I whispered in his ear.
"I
love you Howie. If you're ever in Washington DC area, come to
the
Jeffersonion and look me up." I kissed him and hurried
towards the door.
As I exited the tent, I gave one last look
towards the form of my sleeping
lover, my heart aching like never
before.
I
cried all the way back to the United States. Upon landing, instead of
going
back to my apartment, I went to work in hopes of getting my
mind off the
incredible English man that I had just left. I
feared for his safety, in that
war torn country. I just
hoped he would be okay and that I would hear from
him soon.
