Young Writers Society

            It had been a month since William Adkins had been declared dead. It had been made official at the end of November, two years after he had been announced missing in action. She was dressed in white in the back of a black Camaro. She had a blue sapphire tied close to her pail neck with a black ribbon and a bow, borrowed from a Marabelle Hynes. The bow was a navy blue and dangled at the end of her black fishtail braid. Her dress was laced silk that wrapped around her shoulders and fell to her knees. On the left passengers seat was a pile of letters stacked and tidily secured with a piece of string. The letters were addressed to an Alyce Debrooks. She picked up the letters, feeling the rough paper between her palms. The driver glanced in the rear view mirror, only to see her pale green eyes staring down at the letters in her hand. The car pulled to a curb and the driver, a man dressed in uniform, came to her door. The door opened but she did not move until the man extended his hand and guided her out of the car. Holding her by the shoulder he walked her up the cobblestone path to the Victorian style house.

        The house was dressed in emerald green with grey tiled roofs that swirled into sugar cones. He led her through the gate and to the covered porch where the front door lay ajar. Inside were familiar faces dressed in black and adorned with the look of sorrow. A woman clothed in a puffy one-sleeve dress hugged Alyce, her good friend Marabelle. After, the woman turned and ushered the people out of the room and to the back door leading to the courtyard. The man left her to join the others, leaving her in the wooden room with high furniture and tapestry walls. She was hesitant to follow knowing what she would find. But as the heel of her blue stiletto tapped the floor she made her way to the back with head held high.

        Past the French doors she arrived to the end of the isle. Rows of wooden chairs sat 10 people on either side of the black carpet that contrasted against the bright green grass. The brilliant sun shown on her face, it was a bright day with clouds that made you of think of cotton candy. She walked toward the opposite end of the isle gripping the letters as she fought back the tears. At the other end were three men to the left dressed in navy uniform including the driver and to the right were three women, her friends. An ebony coffin lay between them. She kneeled in front of the coffin and the sermon began.

          With the letters placed on the coffin she took up a glass of wine. It was a deep red valpolicella amarone exported directly from Italy. She inhaled the bitter scent of blackberry as she tipped the glass to her nose. It was then that the driver in uniform made his way over to her side. Putting a reassuring hand over her shoulder he stood with her. His eyes were a pale blue covered by his feathered brown hair. With a slight tilt of her feet she buried her head in his chest, nearly spilling the wine on the shoulder of his navy uniform. He set the glass aside and wrapped his arms around her slim shoulders. Mascara lines dripped down her cheeks. She pushed herself from his chest and let out a breath

“ James…promise me you will leave the military…”

“ Alyce you know that I can’t….”

“ Why not? You have Marabelle to look after…”

“ I am not leaving the military. ”

“ James! I already lost William I can’t afford to go to your funeral too….”

He held her tight around the shoulders

“ I am not leaving the military until I bring William back….”

“He’s not coming back…”

She pushed him away and strode to the front door leaving black tears behind.

        Winter blew away the cotton candy clouds with a harsh wind. The green grass became drenched as rain fell from the dark sky and flooded the roads. Along the sidewalk splashed a wave of muddy water as a black Camaro passed. Windshield wipers flicked the droplets from the car to reveal green eyes. Alyce eased on the gas as she drew the car up the driveway. With an arm over head she braced the rain and locked the door behind her. The house was painted in shadows and obscure silhouettes. She stood with the door at her back and allowed the rain to drip from her face. Removing the bulky black trench coat she put some tea on the kettle and went upstairs. Warm water ran down her goose bump covered skin and down the drain. Much like how the rain outside rushed down the roads and into the gutters. She dried her hair and slipped on a purple pair of fuzzy pajamas. She heard the kettle scream in burning agony. Still fastening the buttons on her shirt she stepped down the stairs and moved the kettle over.

        The forest green coffee cup brimmed with the golden green tea. Four sugars were carelessly dropped into the cup afterward. As she picked up the phone to dial for Chinese it beeped “One unheard voicemail delivered at 8:47 p.m. from James Hynes, to read press 1 to ignore press 2.” 8:47 was only three minutes before, she pressed 1 “ Hey, Alyce I was looking through the albums recently and found some pictures of you and Will and thought you should have them. If you want to come over now I have some Dutch Butter Cookies and tea to share. Feel free to cruise over in the next 10 minutes or call me back. Bye.” She turned her head to the window to see the rain had slowed to a drizzle. For a while she stood, watching the droplets glide down the windowpanes. The mention of Will’s name stirred memories of happier times. Memories that still held sensitive in her mind. Still she poured the tea into a metal thermos before heading up the stair to change. Within a few minutes she was out the door with her wet trench coat weighing on her shoulders. The car still warm gave a quick start and headed back down the road.

         Arriving at the Victorian style house once more gave Alyce a painful sense of nostalgia. She hopped up the path and knocked on the door three times. James opened the door and led her inside. He looked down at her mess of wet hair and half soaked business suit. He took her high boots and coat over to the closet and gently set them aside. Alyce took the time to notice the house was darker than usual with the only light emitting from a few dim bar lights and misplaced electronics. James smiled and once again took her by the shoulder to the main room. Alyce opened her mouth to start conversation but quickly closed as they turned into the room. Two rows of candles held each by a familiar face greeted them. They all stood with the hopeful candlelight in their eyes and white uniforms. She was taken in shock and looked to James for answers.

         He removed his hand from her back and drew her vision to the end of the make shift aisle. The one person not holding a candle with a black suit and a ring, Will. Alyce could not have run faster down the living room half slipping in her tights and tripping in her restricting business skirt. Finally seeing him after all that time and holding him were surreal.

         After the ceremony Alyce stood in the back alone still absorbing the feeling. The thin onyx ring hung on her finger as if it belonged there and she had been missing it this whole time. The light rain now ran across her eyelids as she took a deep breath of the cool air. Will came from behind intertwining his fingers with hers. She turned and hugged him, resting her cheek on his breastbone. “Please don’t leave me again.” In that moment Alyce wanted nothing more then to have a happy end after all this time. “Don’t worry, I am here to stay.”