The Marine and his Promise

Prologue

I started this story before and kind of lost where I was going. Instead of deleting it I decided to try again. I will use the same characters and other things. As an in advance thing I usually will think of this during school. I write it in a notebook and transfer. Thank you all who read. Please give me feedback. I am going to say this is my first story. I will try to go back and correct anything that I need to. If you want I can have a chapter where I just describe each character and maybe give a backstory. If you all request it. With out anything further I will start the story. Also I will give a warning before any mature content.

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They stood in front of the door. I was the only one home so I have to answer the door but I just cannot get my feet to move. I look out the window as someone clad in perfectly pressed military uniforms raises his arm to knock on the door. I apparently moved to the door because I open the door and come face to face with Joe. He has tears streaming from his eyes. They look like they will never stop. He asks for my mother as the chaplain stands there not meeting my eyes. I have known both these men for so long. They have become masters at hiding their emotion.

"Can we speak with your mother please?" Joe asks me.

"She is picking some things up at a store off base." I reply.

"Okay. Can we come in and wait for her?"  Joe asks.

He pulls out an envelope clearly seeing as I can no longer speak. I look over his shoulder debating if I should ask the question. I look at the car they drove as my vision started to blur. I choke back the tears. I will not cry... I will not cry... I must not cry. I repeat this like my life depends on it. I take as deep o breath as I can and the question slips out.

"Who is it?" I ask knowing good and well they won't tell me.

Joe pretends like he did not hear the question. Or maybe he did not. Either way it was not answered. He hands the envelope over to me as the tears just fall like a flood gate was opened. I know my mom will not be home anytime soon so I hold it close to me knowing I will not know for at least an hour.

"My mom will not be home till much later. Will you be fine with me opening it?" I ask knowing that they cannot tell me.

"I will not know after I walk away." Joe says. I got what he was hinting.

I look at the chaplain and see a sadness in his eye that has never been there before. That sadness from both of them scares me. Here are two men, who are some of the strongest I know, about to break into a million pieces. I nod my thanks for them being here and Joe takes the hint knowing what I am about to do. He puts his hand over mine for a second and I look up at him. He looks at me with fear and sadness in his eyes.

"Remember no matter what... we love you.. we are family too." Joe stuttered trying to think of what to say.

"I know Joe. Thank you." I choke out as my voice breaks.

I watch Joe and the chaplain walk away. I see his shoulders sag as he walks to the car. He looks so defeated. I look at the envelope knowing full well with this letter I will either be free, heartbroken, or destroyed. It will either be my father, Antonio, Grace or Nathan. I take a deep breath and decide to go ahead and open it.

"We regret to inform you that..."