After dining with Bob and his father, Samantha drove to Charlotte’s house. The
two girls related their days. Samantha spoke in glowing terms of Bob and his
father. Charlotte merely mentioned she felt a sense of gloom. Samantha gave
Charlotte a gift to open. It was a small picture frame with the words “Faith,
Hope, and Love” in large bold purple letters set on a beige background.
Charlotte’s gift to Samantha was also a frame. It was a larger frame but it
contained a picture of the two ladies from an outing earlier that year.
Samantha remembered the two wore the same shoes and laughed when they noticed. They
also remembered it as a day their relationship deepened. They hugged when they
heard a car pull up.
Charlotte said out loud but not really to Samantha, “It’s Jack.” Samantha could tell there was trepidation in her voice. Samantha kept looking at Charlotte until Charlotte glanced back and finally said, “I think Jack is going to break up tonight.”
“Oh no! I’m so sorry. Do you want me to stay?” Samantha asked hoping she wouldn’t have to. While she wanted to be there for her friend, the thought of hanging around seemed very awkward. Still, she was willing for her friend. “No, I think you should go. I’ll call you when we are done talking.” With that, they hugged and Samantha left.
Jack shut off the car and took a deep breath. He was lost in thought and didn’t acknowledge Samantha at all when she walked by his car. He didn't want to do what he was about to do. He exhaled slowly as he tried to form the words in his mind. Charlotte had been close to his heart for a long time. While part of him rebelled at what his was about to do, breaking off his relationship with Charlotte seemed the only logical thing to do. Relationships just didn’t make much sense anymore. Why try being close to people that end up being taken away from you? Heartache and pain seem to be the only end for everyone. The death of MIA solidified that fact in Jack's mind.
The whole episode at Charlotte's house was hazy in his mind. However, he does remember saying something about his need to think things through, he was different since his deployment, and it wasn't right of him to waste her time waiting for him to get his act together.
He remembered tears in Charlotte's eyes. He remembered her saying, “No, please don't do this.” He remembered seeing the moment her eyes revealed her realization there was nothing that would change the inevitable. She knew she had to accept it. Sobbing. Jack remembered Charlotte sobbing. He didn't want to see her hurting and suggested he should leave. She started to protest but just stopped speaking when Jack stood and walked to the door.
As if he were being controlled by another force, Jack absentmindedly hugged her and simply said, "Goodbye Charlotte." He then walked out to his car and drove away. Charlotte believed that it would have hurt less if he had actually ripped her heart out and stepped on it.
She called Samantha and described the events to her. Samantha asked if she could come over. Ordinarily, Charlotte would have refused but on this occasion, she agreed. Charlotte slept fitfully, waking numerous times. How would she get over this? She was grateful her friend was there to soften the blow. She thought of the present Samantha had given her. Samantha’s life had changed for the better. Bob was a good man and was a good influence on her. She thought back to when she and Nancy shared so much with each other. Shared sorrow is half sorrow, she thought. Lord, when will I have joy again? She hadn’t really spoken with Nancy since Jack’s return. She wasn’t sure if she could share this with her. Then again, maybe Nancy was hurting too. With that thought, she resolved to call Nancy in the morning to see how she was. Shortly thereafter, she slipped back into sleep.
Charlotte said out loud but not really to Samantha, “It’s Jack.” Samantha could tell there was trepidation in her voice. Samantha kept looking at Charlotte until Charlotte glanced back and finally said, “I think Jack is going to break up tonight.”
“Oh no! I’m so sorry. Do you want me to stay?” Samantha asked hoping she wouldn’t have to. While she wanted to be there for her friend, the thought of hanging around seemed very awkward. Still, she was willing for her friend. “No, I think you should go. I’ll call you when we are done talking.” With that, they hugged and Samantha left.
Jack shut off the car and took a deep breath. He was lost in thought and didn’t acknowledge Samantha at all when she walked by his car. He didn't want to do what he was about to do. He exhaled slowly as he tried to form the words in his mind. Charlotte had been close to his heart for a long time. While part of him rebelled at what his was about to do, breaking off his relationship with Charlotte seemed the only logical thing to do. Relationships just didn’t make much sense anymore. Why try being close to people that end up being taken away from you? Heartache and pain seem to be the only end for everyone. The death of MIA solidified that fact in Jack's mind.
The whole episode at Charlotte's house was hazy in his mind. However, he does remember saying something about his need to think things through, he was different since his deployment, and it wasn't right of him to waste her time waiting for him to get his act together.
He remembered tears in Charlotte's eyes. He remembered her saying, “No, please don't do this.” He remembered seeing the moment her eyes revealed her realization there was nothing that would change the inevitable. She knew she had to accept it. Sobbing. Jack remembered Charlotte sobbing. He didn't want to see her hurting and suggested he should leave. She started to protest but just stopped speaking when Jack stood and walked to the door.
As if he were being controlled by another force, Jack absentmindedly hugged her and simply said, "Goodbye Charlotte." He then walked out to his car and drove away. Charlotte believed that it would have hurt less if he had actually ripped her heart out and stepped on it.
She called Samantha and described the events to her. Samantha asked if she could come over. Ordinarily, Charlotte would have refused but on this occasion, she agreed. Charlotte slept fitfully, waking numerous times. How would she get over this? She was grateful her friend was there to soften the blow. She thought of the present Samantha had given her. Samantha’s life had changed for the better. Bob was a good man and was a good influence on her. She thought back to when she and Nancy shared so much with each other. Shared sorrow is half sorrow, she thought. Lord, when will I have joy again? She hadn’t really spoken with Nancy since Jack’s return. She wasn’t sure if she could share this with her. Then again, maybe Nancy was hurting too. With that thought, she resolved to call Nancy in the morning to see how she was. Shortly thereafter, she slipped back into sleep.
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