Worried About Her

 

I sat alone on the couch with my legs folded Indian-style. I heard Joe enter the room but neither looked up nor spoke. My thoughts were not in this room, they were miles away with Katie. The girl was having so many difficulties that I couldn’t imagine what she was feeling.

“Kath?”

I looked up when Joe spoke my name. “Yes?” I asked.

“Honey, what’s wrong? I’ve said your name three times.” He knelt in front of me his brown eyes clouded with worry, just like mine were.

“I-I’m sorry, Joe.” I stuttered. “I’m just worried about Katie.” I felt the tears start to slide down my face. “What if she loses the baby?” My voice was shaky. “She’s going through so much right now.”

“It’s OK. God has a plan and a reason for all of this.” Joe spoke gently.

“I know but I’m still scared.” My hands started shaking. “She’s so little.” More tears slid down my face and I couldn’t speak any longer.

“Don’t cry, please, don’t cry.” Joe wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.
“I’m scared, Joe.” I sobbed into his shoulder. “I’m scared.”

“I know, honey, I know.” Joe rubbed his hand up and down my back. “Shhhh.” He tried to soothe me.

I tried to stop crying but couldn’t.

“She said she’ll let you know what the doctors say.” Joe spoke into my ear. He apparently had picked up my cell phone and read the new text message I had received. “Do you want me to tell her anything?” He asked.

“Tell her ‘OK, and I’m praying for her and love her.’” I replied after stopping my tears.

Joe typed and sent the message. “Are you OK?” He dusted his thumb underneath my eye.

I nodded. “Yeah.” I blew my nose into a tissue from the box laying beside of me. “I’m sorry, Joe, I don’t mean to cry so much.”

“It’s fine.” Joe shook his head. “You’re worried about your friend, I’d cry if I was you.” He slid up next to me on the couch and slipped one arm around my waist.

“I want to go see her.” I threw the tissue into the already tissue filled trash can. “But I can’t, she lives so far away.” I looked up at Joe. “It’s just too difficult.”

“Maybe you’ll be able to sometime later.” Joe pushed my hair out of my face. “It’ll work out. Don’t worry.”

I nodded. “I’ll try not to.” I reached up and pulled at the chain that hung around his neck pulling out the dog tags from beneath his shirt. The cool metal of the tags pressed into my palm. “You leave me in two days.” I mumbled.

“I know, and you’re making it very hard.” Joe rubbed his thumb over my hand that he held. “I know you want me to do what I want but right not I’m not sure what I want to do.”

“You don’t have a choice to go back, Joe. You have to.” I told him. “I’m sorry, I’m not meaning to make it difficult.” I apologized. I ran my thumb over the tag, I let it slip out of my hand, it bounced against Joe’s chest and jingled as the tags hit each other. “I know that it would be easier for both of us if I transferred to a college near where you’re stationed.”

“Yes, it would be. I won’t ask you to do that unless you really want to, and if it will be easy.” Joe said. “I would love it if you did but I know it’s difficult, and tedious.”

I nodded in understanding. “I might just wait until next year since this term is almost over.” I told him…………………………..