A Good Time to Start Over

I dedicate, this Chapter to Melbenda,  you are such an amazing writer and inspiration to me!!!

  Looking at the letter in my hand, I just couldn't believe it was true.  Aiden was back from deployment and after all these years every emotion I felt towards him came rushing back to me.  I was angry hurt and confused.  Feeling my throat tighten I attempted to hold back tears that just defiantly fell down my cheeks.

He was safe and he was alive.

Even though Aiden and I have been friends since middle school I never was close with his family; so if anything happened to him, I would have never known.

Walking to my room, I logged into my email and typed in the email address Aiden gave me to contact him. His number was written down but I wasn't ready to hear his voice just yet.

Feeling butterflies in my stomach, I took a deep breath and responded to his surprising letter.

Aiden,

This is a surprise... I never thought I would be in touch with you again. I'm glad to know that you are okay.  You mentioned that you wanted to see me, where are you exactly? As you know I moved but I'm willing to make a visit to you. Here is my number: 4567773536 just call me whenever you can.

Calla

Pressing the send button, I sighed and glanced at the letter addressed to me and tossed it on my dresser.

***

Hearing the most dreadful ringing in my ears, I jumped out of my sleep. Sitting up I looked around confused as to what the noise was, when I saw the glowing light surrounding the area of my dresser, and then I realized that it was my phone.

Who the hell is calling me this late?

Trudging to my phone, I glanced at the unknown number and frowned and pressed the receive button.

"Hello?" I asked my voice clear of sleep.

"It's Aiden."

I felt my body tense at the deep husky voice I spent all of my teen and beginning of my adult years confiding to.

Fully alert I quickly walked to my bed and sat down. I wasn't so sure if I was ready to talk with Aiden yet but unless I hung up the phone, I didn't have a choice.

"I see you got my email."

"Yeah, I just finished reading it and it's been forever, so when I saw you're number I couldn't help myself. I had to hear your voice Lily"

Sighing I felt my mouth turn upward, Aiden was the only person who has ever called me that. Hearing his voice say that name brought back memories I forgotten.

He cleared his throat bringing me out of my lost past.

"I want to see you Lily; I want to talk to you and in person—

I miss you. I know I don't deserve anything from you but... I need to see you, as soon as I can."

"I totally think you're right Aiden..."

Hearing silence followed by him clearing his throat, I heard his defeated voice.

"I can understand—"

"Where do I meet you?"

"At home, I'm coming home," he replied, I could hear the relief in his voice.

"I'm paying for everything, I will not take no for an answer."

I laughed at his commanding tone.

"Aiden, I'll think about it and seeing as it is three o'clock in the morning here in New York, I will call you when I wake up in about seven hours."

"Listen, wait—"

"Goodnight Aiden, talk to you soon."

Hanging up I turned my phone completely off and got under my fluffy warm covers. With sleep already enveloping my mind, my heart filled with content and something else that I was too tired to figure out.

Goodnight.

Hey everyone, I really hope you enjoy this story. I will try to update once a week and I look forward to all comments and if you think its worth it, please VOTE!!!!

JDCLytle