Page 31 of Unveiled Wishes

“I only had a few thousand dollars to my name. It wasn’t enough to get started, and I didn’t want to ask the military for help. They move on their own time, and I didn’t want to hold you back. You needed to decide where you were heading for law school and get prepared. I walked out of the tent, and that’s when I foolishly broke it off.” I rubbed at my sternum, trying to ease the lingering pain.

“Now, what? We can’t go back.” She rubbed her socked foot against her ankle and held the empty mug in her lap.

“I want your forgiveness, but I don’t know how to earn it.” I was getting angry over our situation all over again. “However, I wanted to kill over some mistletoe. I might have gotten into skirmishes here and there, but I’ve never wanted to do violent harm to a brother. Today, Chef was almost a goner.”

“It was just a kiss. You kissed me on the sand. Same thing.”

“You’re mine, Em. No one should get to touch your lips but me.”

“I am no man’s possession, and I refuse to be placed on a shelf to be looked at.” She laid her mug on the coffee table, stood, and walked towards the hallway towards her room.

“Fuck!” I growled into the empty room, taking a sip of my lukewarm hot chocolate. I didn’t know if I had made anyprogress on winning her back. I might have been a patched brother of the Iron Shield, but I was still a kid trying to date his first girlfriend.

Chapter 12

Gaining An Ally

Emily

I paced in front of the bed, angry, my hands flailing around, not understanding any of the words that I was muttering. How dare he do this to me? The first time he had told me to move on, it had hurt. I had taken his words at face value and gone about my life as if those two years had never happened. I hadn’t stopped to analyze that I might not be over him, and now it was going to explode in my face. Turning around at the edge of the bed, I trotted to the other side, still angry.

“Why wasn’t he just honest with me?” I muttered to the empty room, raising my arms above my head. “What would you have even done?” I answered myself, officially losing it. I tried to remember everything all at once, but my head pounded. A low whine escaped into the silence of the room as I remembered my favorite letter of his.

My Emily,

I am done, Em.

They served my papers today, so it’s official. They’ll discharge me in six months, and then I’ll be free. I am not sure how to feel about that. All I know is that I wanted to tell you immediately. I scribbled this as quickly as I could. Don’t worry if you don’t hear from me. They’ll drill me harder until they kick me out to make sure they get their money’s worth. Please get me through this because it will be the longest six months…ever.

-Tyler

I sat on the floor in front of the bed and pulled my knees up to my chest. I let my head rest against the edge of the bed with my eyes closed, trying to rub the migraine away. If Tyler had told me that our relationship had ended over money, I would have never believed him then. However, I could see it all falling apart clearly now, in a fiery blaze with nothing to save it. I was used to using my family’s money then. I wouldn't make my own until I started working for Nelson's, but Tyler would never have accepted a handout.

I thought about Christopher, and my nose instantly crinkled. My parents were happy with each other. They just weren’t necessarily happy being parents. If I had agreed to the marriage, Christopher would have taken everything from me. My money, my family’s company, and even my soul, without so much as a thank you, just an expectation. A tear streamed down my face. Tyler had let me go and sacrificed himself. Could I forgive him?

As a few pieces of folded paper slid under the door, another tear streamed down my cheek. I jumped up from the floor and opened the door, but he was gone.

Picking up the sheets of paper, I flipped them around in my hand, not sure what I was looking at. There was a new piece of paper that was wrapped around several yellow pages. They looked like they were older, and the creases weren’t crisp, as if they been read more than once.

My Emily,

Your light was still on, and I didn’t want to disturb you, but I thought you should have these. They are the rough drafts of the original letter I sent you. I hope they tell you how angry I was to let you go. It wasn’t the easiest decision, and I agonized over it for years. I might still when my mind quiets down. I thought you had moved on, which helped. It was a bandage on my soul.

I need you. I am not whole without you, and I think you need me, too. You can keep telling yourself you’re here for Christmas, but I won’t believe that’s the complete truth.

-Tyler

Sitting back down on the floor in front of the bed, I opened the first draft. It was mostly the same story that he had told me on the couch, but I could read the happiness pouring from the words. He was trying for me.

I don’t want to give you up, but I don’t know of any bright outcomes.

The second draft was the same thing, except this time he had suggested I pick the school of my dreams, and he’d find work somewhere. As long as I rented out a reasonable accommodation, he’d work two or three jobs to support me.

It’ll only be temporary until I can make enough. I don’t know how I’vefuckedthis up when I don’t spend a dime.

The last letter was where I could feel his anger pouring off of the page.

Emily-

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