11Chapter One—End's Beginning
My story such as it is does not begin with me. It began a long way from where I was living. It began across the world in a war torn country. Where the sun was hot on your back and the light reflecting off the sands nearly blinded your eyes. It was in this world that my story begins, but it does not begin with me.
It had to be about forty-three degrees Celsius if the hot sun on his back was any indication, but Eric paid no attention to it. He was focused on one thing, a particular thing. It was the beginning of December and even though the weather was no indication Christmas was only twenty days away. That was the reason why he was in a small market in a village whose name he had already forgotten, looking for a gift for a very particular person. His wife.
It was supposed to be their first Christmas together, but when his troop got deployed to the Middle East it was going to be their first Christmas apart. In fact, the majority of their married life so far had been spent apart but Eric could do little to change that. He knew that he was doing his duty, even if it took him away from the most precious part of his life, for he had chosen to join the army when he was a young messed up kid of eighteen.
Choices are choices he thought philosophically as he passed a stall with wooden figurines on it. And besides, that choice was made long before I had ever laid eyes on my sweet Clara.
It was then, at that moment when an explosion rocked Eric's world and he was thrown to the ground. In the confusion of noise and blood, Eric prayed to whatever deity that might be listening to take it upon themselves to watch over him and his love, for he had made a promise and it was one that he intended to keep.
Clara sniffled as she held her husband close at the army base. "I can't believe that you have to go,"
"It's my job," Eric replied lamely as he rubbed the back of the woman who had been his wife for a mere month. "I'm sorry that I have to go so soon after getting back, but I promise you my love that I will return."
Clara looked her husband in the eye. Blue irises met green and that promise was registered in their very souls. "You better," she stated eventually as she tried to put on a smile for her husband's benefit. "Try to do a good job and don't get into much trouble…maybe you'll be able to get some leave for Christmas."
Eric smiled but kept his knowledge to himself. It was September and he was being shipped for a fifteen month tour of duty. Of course he would get leave, but it wouldn't be until about six months into his tour. Still, to keep her hopes up he said nothing. Instead, he kissed her as passionately as he had done on his wedding day before finally leaving her teary face.
"I love you Clara," he stated as he walked away from her backwards so as to see her face until the last possible moment. "And don't you worry, I will return."
It was a promise made, and it was a promise that he intended to keep—but the world had other plans for Eric Daniels.
Christmas Eve, twenty days after Eric's Disappearance
"I don't want to come," Clara stated stubbornly. She was a twenty-four year old married women and she wasn't about to be bossed around by her elderly father, even if he did mean well. "I'm not coming home to celebrate. I'm staying here, in my home."
"Clara," her father stated again knowing that his eldest child and only daughter would be home alone in her empty apartment just outside the marine base waiting for her husband. However he knew that with Eric missing in the Middle East and presumed dead that was the worst place for her.
"What if he calls papa?" she asked tears clouding her eyes and evident in her voice. "I can't leave. Not now, not—"
"Clara." Her father, Aaron Peters stated firmly. "I know you. Staying in that box of a house will do you more harm than good. If Eric is going to call it won't be to your home, it will be to his commanding officer. Keith Nielson will call you then."
"I know that," she responded in a small voice.
"So come over. You're brother Frank is throwing a party. It will be good for you. Something to keep your mind of things, heaven knows that you need it."
"Yeah well if heaven knew anything at all, Eric would come walking through my front door right now and the past month will have just been a horrible, horrible nightmare."
Aaron couldn't stand to hear the bitterness in his daughter's voice, but he knew what she was going through. He had lost his own wife, Clara's mother long ago. Clarisse Peters had disappeared during a snowstorm on Christmas Eve. Clara had been seven, her brother Frank had been three and now a similar situation was happening. Her husband was presumed dead and while Aaron himself had long ago resigned himself to the fact that his son in law was gone, just like his wife was gone, Clara hadn't given up hope yet. But it was dwindling.
"Clara," he began more softly this time hoping to reach her.
"No," she interrupted sharply her voice cracking. "I—"
Go see your family my love, a voice whispered in her head, causing Clara to pause momentarily. Go and be happy Clara.
"Eric…" Clara whispered mystified her heart racing a thousand times a minute.
"Clara?" her father asked worriedly at how his daughter had whispered her husband's name. "Are you alright."
"Yes," Clara choked out, all the emotion running back. "It's just that I miss him so much and I'm afraid…"
"You're afraid of doing something that you want to do while your husband is facing, god knows what."
Clara sighed audibly. "Is that so wrong papa?"
"No darling," Aaron comforted. "It's normal."
"So I should come over,"
It was more a question than a statement but Aaron agreed. "Yes Clara. You should come over."
"Yes," Clara agreed through she sounded nothing like herself. "Yes I should come over."
"So will you?" her father asked, hoping for the best.
Clara thought on it for a moment, hoping that the voice would come back, but when it didn't she realized that she didn't have a choice. "Yes," she stated finally. "Yes I will come."
"Excellent," her father responded. "Frank will be so glad to know that he has one more party to get alcohol for."
Clara laughed something that came as a shock for her father. "That's our dear Frank," she stated oblivious to the fact that she was laughing. "Always thinking of having a good time."
And it was true; Frank Peters was twenty years old and was home for the Christmas Break. He was known as the partier in his house just off campus despite the fact that he maintained a 3.5 GPA. Any party that he was throwing would be amazing.
"So I'll see you in an hour or so?" asked Aaron.
"Yeah," Clara confirmed. "If the weather stays clear,"
"Drive safely."
"I will." Clara promised.
"See you soon Clara."
"See you soon papa."
And with that she hung up the phone and contemplated the long drive home.
Author's Note: One update a week. Today was the prologue and chapter one. On the tenth it will be chapter two. On the seventeenth it will be chapter three. On the twenty-fourth it will be chapter four and on the twenty-fifth, Christmas Day the epilogue will be updated.
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