*Joe*
I sat in a chair by Kandie's bed. Kandie lie asleep on her bed with a temperature, blankets were piled on top of her. I was beginning to worry about her, she got sick often. Much too often. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, letting my head fall into my hands. I listened to my girlfriend breath, and cough every once in a while, in her sleep. Her being sick didn't make me feel any better about being gone away from her in the military. I loved being in the Army, and I didn't like being away from Kandie as much as I was, but it was a choice I had made that I couldn't, and didn't, want to get out of. The only way I could keep Kandie with me while I was on base was to marry her but I couldn't do that. I was only eighteen years-old, and she only seventeen.
"Joseph."
I looked up at the sound of my name. Kandie was still asleep on her bed, she turned her head back and forth. "Joseph." She whispered again. I leaned over towards her.
"Kandie." I touched her shoulder. "Katherine, baby." I shook the girl as she muttered my name for the third time. "Baby, wake up." Kandie's eyes blinked open, her breathing was uneven. "Are you all right? You were talking in your sleep, honey." I placed my hand on the top of her head.
"A dream, Joe." Kandie said, looking up with me. "You were gone, and...and not coming back." She had tears in her eyes.
"Aw, honey, it's OK, I'm right here don't worry." I sat down on the side of her bed. "Go back to sleep, love. I'll be right here, I won't leave...for a while." I leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"Promise me, Joseph." Kandie whispered.
She was so sick she couldn't speak above a whisper, it hurt my heart. "I promise you, I'll stay here." I told her smiling. "Sleep, you need to get better." I waited until she closed her eyes, before again taking my seat in the chair.
