Missing You

The busy noise of the airport was all around them, people being reunited with loved ones, friends seeing other friends, people moving to new lives. This was the happy side obviously.

The other side was the painful goodbyes, husbands who work away a lot saying goodbye, children being shipped off to boarding school again, foreigners being sent back to the their own countries despite how much they love it here.

On this side of the airport, held one couple that could make a dent in your heart that made you think about them years later and think “Wow…” This couple was a young woman and young man….both naïve and uncaring of what was happening outside their own world but it didn’t matter, they were completely and utterly in love….

Lucy Valance was being held in her boyfriend Andrew “Drew” Marks arms tightly. His brand new, fresh clean cadet uniform stood out from all the other busy bodies.

“Don’t go” whispers Lucy to Drew, desperation in her eyes. She was trying so hard not cry, despite she had been in hysterics the past few weeks. Drew’s guilt was unimaginable, he squeezed her harder, leaning his forehead against the top of head, breathing in her memorable Peach and Honey Shampoo that she used every morning.

Her small, delicate hands were clutched tightly to his uniform, so tightly that her knuckles were pure white.

“Drew….please….don’t go” she says quietly, but he heard her angelic voice above all the noise. It was just them two in their world, Drew had said farewell to his family at his house, and everybody had been there. His mother sobbing against his father’s chest, he himself was holding back tears as they watch their youngest son leave them. His Aunt cried too, while his Uncle wiped away stray tears. His older brother didn’t care about his reputation at this moment and cried freely, manly sobs wracking from his chest.

Drew didn’t reply, just kissed the top of her head and kept hold of her. His flight was going to be called any minute, the pressure of time increasing against him. He wanted to stay here forever, just with Lucy.

“I can’t Luce” he says in his usual masculine, deep voice that he had received during puberty. Lucy squeezed back tears; she didn’t want to make this harder for him, even though her selfish need for him was unbearable.

“I love you so much” she tells him, finally looking into his forest green eyes, a tint of brown in them. His expression was grave; he was just about keeping it together. Drew smiled weakly but there was no point pretending, he was choosing America first. He was fighting for his country…instead of fighting for Lucy.

“I love you too Lucy, forever and always…you know that don’t you?” he says back confidently, taking hold of her face, looking deep into her own crystal blue-silver eyes, both of them held adoration, love for one another. Lucy’s brimmed with tears, Drew’s caved with guilt.

“Forever and always” murmurs Lucy softly, reaching up on her toes. Her flat shoes were slipping off her heel slightly, as she reached up and kissed Drew’s soft, pink lips and she felt the taste of salty tears between them.

“Flight 1076...boarding” announces the speaker, a high-pitched too-bright for the moment voice ringed between them.

“I’ve got to go” he tries to pathetically convince her. Lucy shook her head agreeing with one of the meanings he intended.

Drew, then did the hardest move….which was letting her go. He slowly, it could have been in slow-motion even unwrapped his arms from her small, curvy waist. Lucy sniffles gently, wiping her cheeks softly with the back of her hands.

Drew steps a tiny step away, picking up his camouflage-coloured duffel back, swinging it onto his back, noticing other people heading for his directed gate.

Drew looks back at his girlfriend of five years, her beautiful heart-shaped face looked abnormally pale and sleep-deprived. But to Drew, she was still perfect. Her dark brown hair fell in gentle waves around her face. She’s beautiful, he thought.

He places his index finger under her chin, tilting it up slightly as she angled it down to glare at the floor with hatred. She tries to smile, but fails miserably.

“This isn’t goodbye” he promises her, too choked up by tears Lucy just nods quickly, tears refusing to stop falling from her eyes.

“I’ll write to you….I promise Lucy” he vows, and he pecks her lips once more. Lucy felt too weak to respond. She watches his every move, every breath as he took his final steps away, smiling weakly and turned away, and the look of guilt, determination and heartache on his face was forever etched into her brains.

Lucy doesn’t move from her spot, despite the fact people stared at the crying 18-year old that watched blankly at her boyfriend’s fading figure. She didn’t turn away till he passed the gate, and what pained Lucy is he never looked back. Lucy, with any pride, dignity or strength she had left, turned on her heels and shuffled out of the busy airport, but everything seemed on mute.

Drew was gone.

And thus, her painful journey began.