They say that sometimes you do not realize the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. The day I look back at this moment, I will remember the day that my family made a sacrifice and followed me so that I can follow my dreams. To say that I am not humbled would be a lie. I have never experienced so much joy in my life as what I have experienced on this single day. The best memory by far shall be when this boy became a real man.
So it seems like the Jacksons are moving to California. Well, not all of them are definitely sure. Matt seems to have some doubts about making this move with the rest of us. What I do find hard to understand is what is keeping him here. The future here in this town holds nothing for him.
Seeing the confusion on his face as he struggles through this decision does pain me a bit. In a way, I do feel that I am a slight bit selfish. I am asking a man to pack up a life he feels comfortable with. I will not push him even further; this is a decisio
I believe that life is made up of a series of moments; these moments are what define who you are now and what you shall become. Today I have closed the door to everything in my past, the heartaches, and failures. I am opening a new door to my future, my future with Isabella. I am ready to begin the next chapter of my life.It is like I have just woken up, and I am in a place where everything just feels right. My heart is calm, and my soul is lit. My thoughts are calm, and my vision is clear. I am satisfied with where I have been and where I am headedAnd when I look into Isabella's eyes, I can see where I am; I see my today, my tomorrow, and my future. From the very moment I met her for the first time, I knew deep down in my heart that I found someone truly special. Being in love with her is the most amazing feeling in the world.Which leads us to this moment.…AN HOUR EARLIER……Clayton POV…So this has been a whi
It is just before sunrise on what will be our last morning in this small little town close to the end of nowhere. Today I say goodbye to my life here. I might come back here someday when I come to see Matt, but in over a little than two hours, I shall get on a bus and leave this all behind. Next to me is my new life; she looks even more radiant than she did yesterday. If there were ever two things that I did right in my life, then it is Isabella and the Corps.One thing I can't get right is to propose to her. I know that it is what I want to do; in a way, I am scared that she might say no, and this ego of mine will not take a heartbreak so easily. Yes, being a fearless Marine is something, but opening myself completely is another thing. I missed the perfect moment last night; from here on end, it is everything deployment. The next week is going to be the worse time that we shall ever face in our relationship.I need to do this today, it is not going to be romantic, but
I have a very serious and somewhat nervous Isabella looking into my eyes with the deepest affection that is held within hers. By the way, her eyes are sparkling in the early morning sun; I am not fully sure if she is just glowing from radiance or if she, indeed, maybe on the brink of crying.She is making me worry somewhat, but as I have learned on several occasions, I that shall let her gather herself, and she shall speak when she is ready. But what can be this great that it has stunned this confident woman to silence, which is now going on for much longer than my worrying heart can take?If she is having second thoughts, then I'd say that we are past the point of return now. Much to my relief, with somewhat stumbling mumbles, she starts to speak."Soldier, you know how much I love you.""Yes, like infinity and beyond.""Don't make me laugh; this is serious.""How serious? Like turn around and go back home serious?""No! God, no! I d
It has come to that time again that I need to say my goodbyes. The week has come and gone faster than I wanted. It feels that I have not spent near enough time with Isabella. The most unbearing thing shall be being away from the baby. I have grown fond of the idea and even more attached to something that has not yet even given shape. To say that I am not going to miss the both of them with be a lie.The anticipation of deploying on the other side is equally just exciting. This time we will be away for a definite six months. This time the stakes are higher, and the danger is far greater. Camp Baharia in Fallujah, the base name, has a tight connection with its operating force; in fact, the Marine Corps are referred to as mushaat al baharia in the Arabian language; hence the free translation, the name describes the navy walkers. Among the military troop and plenty of other officials, including the 2-nd Battalion 1-st Marines, it is referred to as Dreamland.And this is wh
…Isabella POV…They say that reality comes to bite you when you least expect it. Well, a ghost from my past has just surfaced its head. In a way, I knew that he would one day come. I knew that he should find me, and then it will just start all over again.But there is a question that begs, how did he know that Clayton will not be here. Does this mean that he has been watching me this whole time, just waiting for his gap to step from out the darkness?What I also know is that he will not leave until he came here to say what he has to say. Knowing him though he has not come to talk, he has so to say, come to claim his prize. Or what he always comes for.Am I glad that Clayton is not here to see this playoff? I can honestly say yes. But what I also know is that Clayton is going to be furious if he ever has to find out. I have hidden it very well up until now; I just hope he leaves before Denise and Richard comes.So for once again, I ask
I have just received somewhat disturbing news. Isabella's husband is very much still alive. Now, this brings two things to mind. Does she know that he is? Or is she in danger? I have no way of confirming this for myself. I am off in the middle of hostile country; there is not much I can do from here. What I can do is phone her for a brief moment.So as I go to my tent, I feel a somewhat nervous feeling creep into my heart. Or is it fear, fear for Isabella and our child? I will simply die if anything has to happen to her by a man that she once trusted. Well, that all depends if she knows about him or not.And it is with this thought in mind that I, with rather trembling fingers, called Isabella's number. I patiently, in absolute frustration, wait for her to answer the call.Yet, there is no answer.…Isabella POV…I have a rather annoying, suppose to be dead husband standing in front of me demanding that I conveniently take him back. Ye
I have just established that Isabella has had yet another secret from me. As far as the secrets go between us, I can honestly say that this is a big one. Yes, me hiding that I was disabled can count as unforgivable. But having a seemingly innocent man sort of propose to you and then on top of that you are expecting a child, well that is kind of a bigger deal.I am all the way here in Fallujah; there is no way I can protect her, that being said, if she wishes to be protected at all. The biggest question here is, why has she not thrown this man out or, even worse, accepted my offer to get him removed. Does she still have feelings for Mark? He is her real husband, after all.Now, where does that leave me? A man that clearly looks like the cheating kind. Never once have I been unfaithful, and right now, I look like a man that is messing with a married woman. And let us not forget the fact that we are having a child together.With that, a whole new bunch of que
Today my old squad led under Galland now, are making our way into the city. Routine run, nothing too serious to worry about. We do not foresee any resistance, only a lot of stranded civilians. Now there is the majority of the boys that are finding this unnerving due to the amount of Marines that have been killed recently. My advice, keep your head in the game; when they get confronted, then we deal with it then. No need to foreseeing the worse if it is not going to happen. So after we have geared up, we get into the Humvee and make our way away from the camp towards the city. It is ominous; the black smoke lay thick from the tires that have been burnt. The road seems eerily quiet with not a lot of civilians around. This is going to be a quick run-through, and then we are out again …Isabella POV… Clayton's old squad is going out today, and, as with Clayton, he has gone out with them. Now I wish that he did not do it. At least he was honest in telling m