💛- A memory that makes them feel angry
It was a year ago. A year ago today that the news had broken, Sam’s plane had gone down, and soldiers were showing up on Emmy’s door to tell her that he was missing. They couldn’t find him. How couldn’t they find him? His plane had gone down...it didn’t disappear. People didn’t just disappear. There had to be a body somewhere...if he was gone. But Emmy knew, he wasn’t gone. Something told her he was still out there, somewhere, and he needed help. But that’s not what anyone else thought. Not even her mother.
“Emilia...I know today is hard for you...” Emmy had just been staring off into space, but when she heard her name, she blinked a couple of times and looked up, shaking her head. “I’m fine.” She mumbled, looking back down at the text book in her lap. She was so close to graduation... “You’re not fine, Emmy...when was the last time you slept?” It was true, Emmy wasn’t sleeping. She tried, but she would just toss and turn all night, nightmares plaguing her. She gave her mother a shrug. “Emmy...I think you need to talk to someone. I think it would really help...” Emmy shook her head. “I don’t need to talk to someone. What I need is to finish this chapter without being bothered.” Still, her mother wouldn’t let up. “I really think it would be beneficial. Sam is gone, Emmy...” Emmy tried to tune her out. “He’s gone, and you need to come to terms with that. He isn’t going to be coming back. It’s been a year...” Emmy squeezed her eyes shut. “I know you want to think he’s out there somewhere...but Emmy...a year is a long time. A long time for anyone to be missing anywhere. But over there...” Emmy couldn’t take it anymore. She slammed the book shut, glared at her mother, and shook her head.
“If you want to believe that, fine. But he’s out there. I know he is. And when he’s found, or he comes back, you’re going to feel like a real asshole.” And with that, she stormed off to the basement, to be alone, like she wanted to be.
💜- A memory about one of their loved ones, happy or sad
Life always felt perfect when Sam was home. It was the way things were supposed to be...him, by her side, curled on the couch by the fireplace, or doing simple things like out grocery shopping. It was the little things that made Emmy happy when he was around. Don’t count the days, make the days count. That was their motto.
This was the worst part of the visit, though. Watching Sam pack his things up, little by little, not knowing when she would see him again...if she would see him again... The unknown was always the worst. One would have thought after all these years that she would be used to it, but nothing prepared her for the goodbyes.
And then the airport...how could some place be her favorite place and her least favorite place all at once? She was always so excited, waiting for him at international arrivals, holding a sign with his name. Everyone always clapped as they saw him coming through, in full uniform, a smile on his face as he enveloped her in a tight hug. Those hugs were always the best.
But the hug she was getting now...those were the worst. Those were the hugs that tried to hold her together as she tried not to lose it. The tears were streaming down her face and the weight of the world felt like it was completely crushing her as she stood there. Her breath caught in her throat as Sam kissed her head, telling her it would be okay. Except it wouldn’t be okay. Because as his flight was announced and he knew he had to go through security, he had to say goodbye. Sam kissed her, one last time, and whispered that he loved her. It wouldn’t be long, he promised, before he was home again. ...except that was a lie. ...because Sam wouldn’t come home. Because this would be the last time she saw him. And then...he was gone.
