A Heart's Hope (One-Shot)
This story was inspired by Having Faith in Fate and The Reason Is You, the two most wonderful one-shots I have ever read!
Sometimes life throws you curves, but you learn to swerve. Sometimes life doesn't want you to win, so you try harder. But sometimes, you can't swerve, you can't try harder. Sometimes, there is nothing left to do.
You have to enjoy life as it is and not wish for something better. You have to move on. You cannot just wait around for life to take you away, for you to float up to heaven. You have to do something. Maybe even change the world. If you don't like something, buck up and fix it, change it, flip it. It's not going to change itself.
Remember what you had. Even if something goes bad, remember. That way you learn. Bad chapters of your life come and go. But don't shut the book.
Just turn the page.
It is to stand up for what you believe in, and to go out fighting.
THAT is a heart's hope.
I had just been kicked out of the house by my drunk mother. She told me never to come back. 5 minutes later, she came and threw a bag out of the door with my clothes in it. Then she turned and slammed the door, leaving my on the sidewalk with a bag of clothes and tears running down my face. After 10 minutes or so of balling my eyes out, I decided to walk away from the small shack that I used to call a home. I know she has kicked me out before. But never like this.
I knew it was for real this time.
Tears streamed harder as I walked to the park with my suitcase. When I sat down, it started raining. I remember thinking 'at least no one will know I'm crying.'
I sat on the park bench, in the pouring rain for what seemed like forever.
But when I felt a hand on my shoulder, I turned around, ready to punch a creepy stranger.
What I saw was not a creepy stranger. More of a extremely beautiful stranger.
He had hair the color of dark chocolate dripping water down his edgy face. Even through the rain, I could see his sparkly green eyes. His navy t-shirt and light colored blue jeans were soaked. He was wearing beat up tennis shoes. I wanted to smile. But I didn't.
He shoved his hand out.
"I'm Trey. Trey McCartin. I saw you sitting here from my house. I felt I should come and ask you why you were sitting here, in the pouring rain with your head down."
Should I tell him, I debated in my head.
"My mom kicked me out." I told him this before I could think anymore about it. Then, after another thought, I took his hand. "I'm Gracelin. But you can call me Gracie."
He didn't let go of my hand. He just motioned for me to get up and for some reason, I did. I followed him into a run-down shack that was in worse condition than the one I lived in.
"It's all mine. My parents ODed and now I'm by myself. They couldn't find any family that wanted me so now I'm by myself." My face fell. He had no parents. He said it so casually.
Then I sat down on a tattered couch and we sat for hours, talking. I ended up telling him my entire life story. I told him how when I was born, my father was out of town on a 'business trip,' with his buddies. I told him how when I was 3 years old, my daddy left my mother. I can't remember what my dad looks like. But I remember his eyes. They were the exact color of Trey's. But I didn't tell him that. I don't remember when, but not long after my my dad left, my mom started drinking. When I was 7, she began leaving me home alone so she could go out with her friends. Since I was 12, 3 years ago, I have only seen her sober, not drunk or hungover 5 times, I've kept count. I told him how I've been kicked out the house many, many times since I was 13. And I told him how now that I'm 15, I've been kicked out for good. He just listened, the whole time. And he never let go of my hand.
Ever since then, we've been inseparable.
"Gracie??" I heard Trey call from the living room.
"Coming!" I yelled and ran to him, sitting on his lap, lazily.
He leaned forward and kissed my forehead.
"You needed me?" I asked.
"Nope. Just wanted to kiss you." Then he kissed my lips, gently.
I laughed. "Oh."
It had only been a year since we met. But it has seemed like we've know each other our entire lives. We just understand each other.
"Baby?"
"Yess...?" I asked.
"I love you," he whispered in my ear.
"And I love you," I whispered back.
Then I kissed him, but more forcefully than he had kissed me.
After about 30 seconds, his cell phone rang.
"Aww.." I said, bummed that it interrupted our kiss.
"Hello?" Trey spoke into the phone.
He had it on real loud so I could hear it through the speaker.
"Hello. You are invited to join the United States army if you are ages 18-30. Please consider the possibility. We need help more, now than ever with fighting across seas. You can press 1, if you are interested. Press 2 if you are not interested. Press 3 if you would like us to call one week from now. You may make your decision then. Thank you."
To my obvious surprise, he pressed 3.
Then he glanced at me and noticed I had heard.
"Wait. You aren't thinking about...." I trailed off.
"I suppose I should tell you that they called last week, too."
"But you can't do that. You just turned 18. You wouldn't want to-" He cut me off.
"Babe, I don't know. I haven't decided yet. I think this could be big for me. I'm not positive but....." I couldn't hear anymore.
He couldn't possibly be considering this. I mean, I'm only 16. He's only 18. He is too young to go fight. Something could happen. What if he got hurt?
"....please." He finished the sentence I hadn't heard. "We have an entire week to talk about this. I don't want to leave you, believe me, I don't. But I think maybe I should go fight. It's not only a paid thing. I also really want to serve our country. Please, just think. I love you and you know I don't want to be away from you. And I'll be back. Just let me go for a year. I really think I need to do this."
Wow. Where did this come from??
It felt like my world way spinning the wrong way and this wasn't really happening.
It seemed like he really wanted this. He didn't have give me a good reason but he must have one.
"Okay. I'll think about it." I cannot believe I just said that.
One Week Later
We were sitting on the couch, holding hands, watching tv, when the call came again.
He answered the same way he had last time. I heard the voice recording go off.
"Hello. You are invited to join the United States army if you are ages 18-30. Please consider the possibility. We need help more, now than ever with fighting across seas. You can press 1, if you are interested. Press 2 if you are not interested. Press 3 if you would like us to call one week from now. You may make your decision then. Thank you."
He looked at me, sadly, with a question mark in his eyes.
I have been thinking hard about this. He really wants this. He wants to stand up for this country. He does. And I don't want to stop him.
I nodded, immediately regretting it.
He gave me a small smile. Then he pushed one.
I let out a breath of air as he spoke into the phone, telling his name, address, skill levels, etc.
I was wondering how long it would be when he set the phone down and answered my question.
"I have exactly a week." My hopes fell. One week??
"How long will you be away??" I asked, sadly.
"Somewhere between.....1 and 3 years."
I just let my head fall and squeezed his hand tighter.
"No, babe. You aren't going to be sad. The time will fly right past. You will barely get time to miss me. Okay?"
I could only shake my head.
"You don't worry about me. I'll be okay. Really. I'll come home safe. I promise."
"Okay," was all I could mutter.
One Week Later
I helped Trey pack his things into many big camo bags that they sent for him. He was already dressed in his uniform with a fresh haircut.
He had the boots, the hat (which would later be replaced by a helmet), the shirt, the jacket, the pants, a backpack, and many other camouflage bags.
I had found out that he was in infantry a day after the last call came in. That means he was in the most dangerous position.
We packed in the last of it all and then, together, lugged every single one of his 7 bags to the car. We sat on the couch together, one last time. He held me in his arms and I leaned against his chest. I kissed his collar bone, then his jaw line, his cheek, and finally his lips.
And hour later, I got in the passenger seat of our old car. I barely had my license and my boyfriend was going off to war. Fantastic.
I watched him start up the car and hit the gas. A hour drive to the airport. That's all.
I only get one more hour with the boy of my dreams. Then I wouldn't see him for 3 years.
Great.
We talked about many things on the way there. But neither of us said a word about him leaving. There wasn't a quiet moment while driving until we actually pulled into the airport.
"Damn," I heard him whisper.
We took all his bags to the luggage place and then stood at the exiting gate, holding hands. I didn't want to let go.
"Well, I suppose this is it," he told me, sadly.
I shook my head.
He grabbed me and pulled me into him. "I'm sorry, baby. I know you really don't want this. But I do. I need to go. It just feels right. When I get home, I won't ever go away again. Honest."
I was speechless. So I just grabbed him tighter.
When I found my voice, I scolded him.
"You best come home safe."
Then someone walked up and told us that he had 7 minutes until the plane left.
He thanked the man and looked into my eyes.
"I'll be home, baby. I swear I'll be home. Okay?"
"Yes." I had to swallow the lump in my throat.
"But if something should happen, remember that a heart's hope is to stand for something you believe in, and go out fighting. Remember that, babe. But I'll be home. I'll come back to you, safe as could be. I promise."
"Okay. I'm holding you to that."
"Good. I love you, Gracie." He gave me the 100 WATT smile.
"I love you, Trey."
With that, I let go of him and stood, watching as he walked to the plane. He only glanced back once. I knew this was going to be the longest years of our lives. I tried to blink away the tears away but came unsuccessful. I watched the plane take off and stood there for 10 minutes after it did.
I had tears streaming and my hands were shaking as I walked back to the car.
On the way home, I was real distracted. I wasn't really watching the road.
I was home before I knew it.
I went inside, nearly smelling the loneliness.
I layed down on the bed, thinking about Trey, about how I already missed him, about how much I love him.
I repeated his parting words a hundred times.
I promise. I promise. I promise.
Soon enough, I dozed of, dreaming of sleeping until Trey gets home so I wouldn't need to live without him.
About One Year Later
I had been okay. I cried myself to sleep sometimes, but I've been okay. I have a cheap paying job, but I don't mind it much. I don't really talk to many people in high school, so I have no friends. All I have it the house, food in it, and the car. No one even glances at me, anymore.
Up until now, though, I've been okay.
I was sitting in the living room, staring at the static that was on the TV. I couldn't find the remote to fix it so I was just dozing a bit.
A knock knock made me jump a little.
I ran to the door, and saw a man that looked about 50 standing there. He was wearing a business suit and had a black briefcase.
"Hello," I croaked in my sleepy voice.
"Hi. Are you Gracie Monty?"
"Yes, sir. That would be me." I gave my best smile.
"I'm here to tell you some very bad news." My best guess for the news was that my electricity bill was late (because it was) or I forgot to pay my cell bill (also very possible).
I questioned him with my eyes and he shook his head as he spoke.
"I've been asked to come tell you the news of Trey McCartin."
My hopes lit up. He was coming home!
"M'am, I'm sorry. He was fighting in infantry. And he was wounded. Bad. And we took him to the base for medical help. But he just...." The man trailed off as my hopes started on fire and burned everything until they fell to the very pit of my stomach.
"What....are you...do you...are you trying to say?" I stuttered.
"Your boyfriend is dead, m'am." Then he spoke in sympathy. "I'm sorry.
I fell to the ground, slamming the door in his face.
This couldn't really be happening.....could it?
I mean, it was only a year ago that he promised he would be home. He promise he would be home safe. And that didn't happen. The promise is broken. And now I am, too.
Trey McCartin, my boyfriend, the best man I have ever met, was dead.
One Week Later
It felt like yesterday that the man told me the love of my life is dead. But it was more than a few days ago.
The funeral is today, and I woke up, crying like a baby. I cried in the shower, too.
Once I got out of the shower, my crying stopped. I don't know why.
I must have been out of tears.
The next part was all blurred. I remember getting dressed, going to the funeral, doing the 21 gun ceremony, and I remember the folded flag.
But the blur all stopped when they started lowering the casket.
It turned to slow motion.
They began to lower it, and I cried harder.
Someone came up and tapped me on the shoulder. It felt like forever before I could turn around.
They apologized for my loss and then everything went black.
I woke up in a white room on an uncomfortable hospital bed.
I saw an IV bag next to the bed. It had a cord coming from it. I followed the cord with my eyes and found it lead to my wrist.
For some reason, I was frustrated. I wanted to rip the IV from my arm and take off running. I wanted to find Trey. And if I couldn't, I would look for someone who would wake me, who would tell me this was all a dream. I wanted to find some one who would pinch me. Then I would wake up, lying next to Trey.
A doctor walked in and looked surprised to see I was up.
"Oh, hello. How are you feeling??"
I must have looked confused.
"You fainted at your.....boyfriend's....funeral. And someone brought you here after you wouldn't wake up. But you should be okay, now. You can stand up and walk around, if you'd like. If you get dizzy, sit down, again." He told me this with a smile.
Then he left the room.
I got out of the bed, noticing I was wearing a ugly white dress....ish...thing.
I walked towards the door, and ran to the doctor out in the hall.
"Excuse me, but if I'm okay, may I go home, now?"
"I would like to keep you here for a few more minutes, to make sure you are stable. But then, yes, you can go."
I breathed a sigh of relief. They aren't keeping me.
A Few Minutes Later
I was walking out of the hospital, now dressed in my normal clothes.
I got into my car and drove to the spot where Trey McCartin was buried.
I got out of the car and walked so I was standing right next to his grave.
"Hi, Trey. Hey baby. I just wanted to come and say goodbye to you, one more time. I really miss you. I hope there are streets of gold up there for you. You deserve that."
I repeated his words in my head.
A heart's hope is to stand for what you believe in and go out fighting.
"You wanted to go out fighting, standing for what you believe in. You did it baby."
I smiled.
"I love you, Trey McCartin."
I blew a kiss towards the stone and turned around, holding my tears in, with my smile of memories.
I walked away that day remembering the words again.
Stand up for what you believe in and go out fighting.
That's a heart's hope.
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Okay, everyone. That is my first short story/ one shot, ever!
So please comment and tell me what you think!
All criticism is welcome. After all, it can only make me a better writer.
So, please comment.
Thank you for reading!
And if you could invite others to read, it would mean a lot to me!
-Kelsi
:)
Tags: A Heart's Hope, Kelsi Salzwedel
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by sarah richardson on -
can't wait for an update sounds really good!!
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Permalink Reply by Kelsi :) on -
Thank you!!
I was planning on finishing it today. But I ran out of time.
:) -
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Permalink Reply by Ashlee Garcia on -
This is really good!! I can't wait for an update, can you send me a message when you update please!
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Permalink Reply by xx Kaitlyn xx on -
That was really g00d Kel-C.. i loved it.. :)
=DDDDDDD -
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Permalink Reply by Miss Amanda on -
Wow! This is so amazing! Great job! I started crying really hard when she was a his grave, becuz that just reminds me of being at dyllanns grave. This was so great and I loved it so much! Fantastic Job!
Thank you for sharing. -
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Permalink Reply by Kelsi :) on
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ThankYou, Mandi.
That really means alot coming from a great writer like you!!
:) -
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Permalink Reply by Ashlee Garcia on
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Great job!! I love it! I started crying at the end when she blew a kiss at his grave.
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Permalink Reply by Łuną Nighťfąłł on -
AWWWWWWWW I'm crying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so bad i love these short stories i tottally want to do one
you did amazing!!!!!!!!!!! I loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
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