soldier story
...orn apart and thrown in different directions. I stood and watched as the man I loved walked away from me in his dull green patterned and camouflaged clothes into the mist of many more just like him. That image of him walking away still stays with me. Forever will. Endless days I sat on the worn-out couch staring at the television, which was my only source of news of my husband. Day by day, the situation in Iraq became worse. “…two hundred Australian soldiers have just been reported dead after an expected bomb was set off near their campsite. Several more have been injured and five soldiers have been captured.” I became sick - terribly. I threw up more times in a week than I had my whole life. A few days later, things started to become better. I received a letter in the mail. Before I even read the letter I knew who it was from by the style of writing – a smile appeared on my face. His words made me feel sanction and relief. That night as I watched the news my joyous feeling continued its trend with information of the Australian soldiers coming back home. I was overwhelmed with excitement, even though my strange sickness had continued. That night I couldn’t sleep. I dreamt of meeting him once again and holding him just as I did before he left. I had been so lifeless and empty with him gone, but it was all going to change and life would be good again. I parked the car and headed up towards the dock. I spotted the massive tank ship in the distance and moved closer to make out the name on the ship; ‘H.M.A.S. Sydney’. The men had already started leaving the ship and reuniting with their families. I watched the joy and happiness on their faces. I had missed him so much. I stood waiting for a while. Most of the men had departed from the ship and there was no sign of him. The captain and important looking men then left the ship and most of the military men and family and already left the dock. Forty-five minutes and still no sign. I began to worry. Where could he be if he wasn’t on the ship with all the others? – My heart raced faster and faster. Just then a man in military uniform walked towards me. His face was hung low and he avoided eye contact. He looked up at me with sorrow in his eyes and said only this; “I’m sorry. He didn’t make it.” What he said didn’t sink in. It had to all be a dream. The realisation of the truth dug a hole deep in my heart as he slowly walked away. I did not move. As day began to dim I sat there on the wharf and looked out towards the sea. For hours I sat and cried. Why now? I didn’t eat and hardly slept. Life was miserable. My constant throwing up sickness resulted in me having a medical test. I sat on the bathroom floor and waited two agonising minutes. I watched the tube turn a bluish colour. I was pregnant. My last memory of him was being created in my womb. A miracle. But what would this child remind me of? The chance of happiness that was killed? The insubordination of my distorted life. Is it really a miracle? Nevertheless, abortion wasn’t an option. He would have wanted me to have our child even if he couldn’t be there to see his own baby grow up. Four months passed, four lonely months. I noticed my stomach growing now and even the uncontrollable cravings. On day a parcel was delivered to the house. It was a medium sized box. The man who delivered it said it was the last of my husband’s belongings that were rounded up from base and at camp. I went upstairs and sat on our bed. His scent filled the room as I opened the box. I couldn’t help but let the tears flow. I cried - Bitterly. I held his coat to my face and reminisced. Inside was also some photos of his time at training. I pulled out a chain – it was the locket I had given him for our anniversary. Inside was a picture of him and I. how happy we were. The tears were becoming uncontrollable and I couldn’t go through his things anymore, it was unbearable. But something caught my eye. At the bottom of the box was a tape. At first I thought it was our wedding tape – he told me he always carried it around to remember how beautiful I am and how much I haven...