Jenny -
After receiving the news and the tickets, we made a plan to bring our solider home. We had to get shots and passports, we did that first. We made sure we got time off work and out of school for Pone. My brother Peter, and Jamie were watching the twins while I was away. So we boarded a flight to Germany over fifteen hours ago.
We landed on the German soil and we arrived in Berlin. It was such a relief to be so close to get our soldier back home. I knew that he might be different, I have no idea what has happened to him. He was still recovering from his injury and time heals all wounds yet, I knew he might have more than just physical wounds. He's a solider and he will have to adjust to civilian life again.
My heart pounded with excitement and I guided the boys off the plane. It was a strange new world for Soda and Pony, they were taking in their new sights. For me it wasn't all that new, I had been to Berlin before. My father was an Army colonel and we often depending on his lived in Japan, Hawaii, England, 37 of 50 states and Germany. This place hadn't changed much since I had been here last, same airport and came city.
Germany was his longest assignment, I was seven when we moved to Berlin and we stayed there until I was twelve. I learned the language and knew my way around. My father was a respected man, a surgeon and colonel, he was well know around was shipped out to Vietnam when I was thirteen , we moved back to Tulsa.
Mama raised Peter and me while Dad was away at war. My father fought four long years in a war he didn't believe in. But that was the kind of man my father was, the man who severed country. It was my Dad who guided me to find my passion as a doctor. He would be so proud, his little girl becoming a doctor and he would have loved Darry. My father was killed during battle when I was fifteen years old so my Mama had no choice but to raise us as a single parent. It wasn't easy but she helped her two children through medical school and stayed by our side like she did with Dad.
We found our luggage and I guided the us towards the cab. I flagged the cab and we climbed in, I gave the directions to the hotel. Speaking German and knowing my way around Berlin certainly helped us arrive at the right location. The boys and myself were exhausted, but I need to find my Darry. I had so much to tell him, we have a new life to start together. Maybe the babies came earlier than planned, but I can't picture myself doing anything else but being a family with the man I love.
"You guys need to rest, you're all jet lagged. First time on a plane wears you out but you will be alright, a little sleep and a meal should help.", I say
"Yeah, we do need the rest.", Pony says
"Go on see Darry, I know you dying to see him.", Soda says with a smile
"Thanks, guys. You're right, I have so much to tell him.", I say
"I could use a shower. Come on, Soda.", Pony says
"Give Dar our love.", Soda says
The boys unlocked their hotel room and disappeared within the room. I was across the hall and smiled happily, I was going to see my solider. I dressed quickly into a pair of cargo pants, a olive green v-neck and a pair of combat boots. I pulled my hair back into a pony-tail and slipped on a light green jacket. I grabbed my wallet and slipped it into my pocket. I locked the hotel room and got in a cab. I arrived at the hospital and I paid the cab driver.
I felt so much love for the man i hadn't seen in months. He might have been away at war but I grew more in love with him over the months. He wrote me so many letters and I wrote him so many back. I kept the letters, I had the ones I sent him and the ones he wrote to me. They had been tied together and I've read them so many times. There is one that I can quote word for word and I carry it in my heart.
My dearest Jenny,
Hello my darling, I hope all is well. I miss you something awful, I can't wait to hold you in my arms. Tonight, you'll lay in a cold bed whether it be mine or yours, that doesn't matter. I'll be lying on a mat with a thin sheet in the Vietnam jungle with my gun at my side. But my darling, don't be lonely or scared, soon enough I will be lying next to you.
I will return home someday soon and when I'll do I always remind you how much I love you. I want so badly to hold you in my arms and press gentle kiss onto your forehead. I desire to hold you close in my arms while you sleep so peacefully and I watch the gentle rise of your chest. I promise that I will love you always, protect you forever and be yours for as long as you'll have me. I carry you heart with me, I carry your heart in mine.
I'm a lucky man to find a woman like you. A smart man would marry you as soon as he could. A dumb man wouldn't be able to see what is right in front of him. Well, maybe I'm just lucky or stupid, maybe a bit of both. I'm a very lucky to have such a strong , beautiful, amazing and smart woman like you. I love you forever and always, I wish I was a braver man. If I was braver I would have told you those words before I left.
Being a solider isn't easy, darling. I know you understand that growing up an Army brat and living on the base. I am soon in love with you and that won't change. War might change me, age might change me but loving you won't change. Every moment I'm given to be with you is a amazing moment in my life. You helped my find myself again , Jen.
I got lost somewhere between being a boy and being a man, as much as i denied it, I was still a kid when my parents died. I made the decision that changed my life forever and you know what I'm not perfect, I made mistakes. But you know I would have done it again in a heart beat if it meant two things. If I kept my family together and got you in the end, I would have done it a thousand times.
I forgot who I was and the man I became is because of you Jen. I wouldn't been the same man if I hadn't meet you. Someday I want to marry you, buy a little house with a white picket fence, having a bunch of children, get a dog and have a life together. I want to grow old with you, Jen. You're the only woman I want in this entire world, I can't see myself sharing my life with any one but you.
No matter what happens, Jen. I will love you forever, forever , and always. Yes, that means to the moon and the stars, then back again. No matter how much time I get with you, I pray we grow gray together but just know our time together has made me the happiest and luckiest man in the world.
I promise that I will love you always, protect you forever and be yours for as long as you'll have me.
Yours always,
Private Darrel S. Curtis
I walked into the hospital and I found myself so in love with that man. I walked right to the front desk and I asked where Private Darrel S. Curtis was. I was directed to room 17B on the recovery floor. I opened the door to find Darry staring out the window. He sat facing the window sitting in a wheel chair, a bandage wrapped around his head.
He wore blue stripped pjs, blue robe and a pair of slippers. I approached the man with soft padding and a gentle smile. He seemed so lost and waiting for someone. I said his name, his name slipped out of my mouth with so much love.
"Darrel.", I said taking his hand
He looked up at me with a gentle smile and tears in his eyes.
"Jen.", He said hoarsely
No words had to been exchanged, we hadn't seen each other in months. I had tears streaming down myself as I kissed him so gentle and he kissed me back. No words were need, it was perfectly translated. "I love you, I miss you, I was scared but I have you again."
To be continued...