Page 8 of Only Yours
Yes, I’m supposed to be studying to be a doctor. At least, that’s what my mom expects of me. I don’t really know if it’swhat I’m meant to do or not. The truth is I’ve been told most of my life what I should do to the point that now I have no idea what I really want to do. Do I want to hold people’s lives in my hands? Do I want people’s blood on me? Do I even care about the neural pathways in the brain or the chambers of the heart? I think I have my answer to that, but it’s not one I want to explore.
If you think you’re writing some do-gooder here or someone who has it all together, then I’ll let you know right now you’re wrong. I’m still trying to figure a lot of things out. I shouldn’t say this, because I want you to write me more letters (to be honest), but you probably deserve to have a crush on someone way more worthy.
Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I’ll turn to the fun stuff.
I love this season of school. Fall, when everything about school is new and shiny. Football games every Saturday and pumpkin spice at Starbuck’s. (Yes, I’m that girl). I also love watching your sister fall more and more in love with your formerly clueless best friend. He’s finally getting his shit together when it comes to her, thank goodness. I had to push him a bit. (Bet you never thought I would be cupid, huh?) It’s been fun to watch their back-and-forth tug of war with love. Thank goodness you didn’t blow a gasket when you found out they were together (I mean except for punching him), because I don’t think Sophie could have handled it. She loves you a lot, you know?
I like your sister. She’s one of the few girls I know that has not a hint of jealousy or spite within her. She’s not a gossip, and she tells the truth more than she should. I’m hoping some of her goody-two-shoes ways will rub off on me.
As for my art, it is one of the few things I have that is truly mine. It’s mostly just doodles. Though, sometimes I do like todraw people. Therefore, I’ve enclosed a gift for you. Don’t go making too much of it though.
If you want to, write me again. I suppose I’ll take time out of my day to read it. (Laughing emoji again)
Hope you’re doing okay,
-Reina
P.S. I hate that you miss home so much. Please take care over there.
***
The grin on my face stretches wide and is probably the dopiest thing on planet Earth, but I can’t stop myself.
This girl. This crazy girl. She tries to protect herself so much, but damn it, she likes me too.
Then I take out a white, piece of folded paper. I slowly unfold it and then take a deep breath in.
Damn, my girl is good. This isn’t just some hobby. She’s drawn me in my uniform, exactly as I was the last time she saw me when I came to say goodbye to Sophie. And I look damn good. You can tell by the sappy look on my face that I’m looking at her. I wonder if she realizes how far gone I am over her. Probably, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I stare at the paper for a long time. Shit, if my heart wasn’t already at her feet ready to be kicked, it is now.
Chapter 8
It’s easy to hide who you are when no one is looking too closely. -Reina
Reina
When a letter arrives in my mailbox the next week, I don’t try to hide my excitement. I barely hold my giddiness together long enough to make it to my bench. I’m vibrating with excitement when I rip into the letter.
Dear Reina,
Thanks so much for your letter and your picture. You give yourself way too little credit if you think that’s merely a doodle. You’re talented, Reina, and you should really explore sharing that talent.
I know it’s easy for me to say that, especially when it seems as if your family has their own expectations of you. But I would hate to see you not share your talent with the world. That’s how good the picture of me was. I mean, I know I’m an attractive subject, but you made me look even better than my usual self (that was a joke btw, does sarcastic humor come across in a letter?).
We’re training every day for our next mission. So, no, absolutely no debauchery going on here. Just a lot of tired guysbellyaching about all the shit we have to do and how little time we have to do it in.
I can’t say I’ve always been a saint, but I know I’ve never met anyone quite like you before. Or felt the way I do just when you look at me. You know, the best part of that picture you drew for me? It captured exactly how I look at you. How important you’ve become in such a short amount of time to me. And here I go getting sappy again…
I love fall too. I played football, once upon a time, so occasionally I miss it. I wasn’t nearly as good as Liam, so I knew high school was as far as I would go, but I got to have a little bit of time as one of the football gods. It was a fun time. I wish I had known you then, but you probably would have thought I was even more cocky than I am now (if that’s even possible, right?) I miss Halloween with my sis and mom and playing in the leaves. Most places we’re sent to don’t have seasons, so it’s nice to enjoy the changing of the leaves and the weather when I am in the states.
We leave in less than a week, so this will probably get to you only a few days before we leave. The military doesn’t always do things on time, but that’s at least when I’m assuming we’ll go. They have a phrase here, hurry up and wait.
I hope you give me a chance and write more, Reina. I want to hear more about you. I want to know what makes you so sure that every guy will be a jerk (Most are, except me, of course…again, does my sense of humor come through on paper?)
I want to know about what makes you, well, you. What your family is like back home and what makes you tick. I’m interested in it all.
Getting your letters make my days immensely better, and you make this soldier an incredibly happy man when I see your handwriting. I’ll send you the the new address of where we’regoing as soon as I have it, so I don’t miss any of your letters. I would hate for even one to arrive after we’ve already left.
