#oo5

OO4

¡Maldita sea mi suerte! Y malditos los caballeritos de honor que me indujeron por el mal camino!, ¿se habría visto antes a un flacucho como yo pedir cerveza, vodka y whisky al mismo tiempo?

Afortunadamente no morí, Safi me habría matado de haberlo hecho.

Caminar entre los semi-cadáveres de Elian, Emerick, Ayme, Nico y Louis no era tan sencillo, pues  mientras uno roncaba el otro respondía con algún ruido corporal desagradable al olfato pero muy divertido, cuando vi mi camino libre el toparme con Crhis casi hace que me diera un infarto pues al parecer habíamos decidido la noche anterior que pintarnos penes en la cara era divertido.

— 𝐻𝑜𝓎 𝑒𝓈 𝑒𝓁 𝒹𝒾́𝒶 𝓂𝒾𝒿𝑜 — traduje de un balbuceo y me encamine al baño y él a la cocina por municiones de café. Mi cara estaba intacta. Suspiré y me estremecí cuando el agua fría toco mi piel.

Hoy era el día. Hoy por fin habría de tomar las manos de mi pequeña Safi y las besaría como todas las noches pero algo seria diferente, algo nos uniría más. Seriamos marido y mujer.

Llegar al sitio donde seria la ceremonia no fue díficil ya que no estaba muy lejos de las grandes colonias urbanas, incluso se me hacia poco común y por ello encantador que en Night Vale se hallaran  pequeños paisajes como de cuento. 

Arribe a media tarde pues quería revisar que todo estuviese en orden y no lo habría podido hacer sin que Alexa, Jane, Leia, y Meg me ayudaran, me sorprendió no ver a esta última dando latigazos a los organizadores del lugar. Eileen por otra parte tendría un papel especial en todo esto: calmar mis nervios.

“But mommy, I don’t wanna go to sleep yet!”

A breathy laugh escaped Charlotte’s lips, scooping up the tiny four-year-old, holding her to her chest. Motherhood was definitely a challenge, especially when going it alone. Nathan had been overseas for eleven months and fourteen days. Just twelve more days, and the two would be reunited once again. The couple had discussed Nathan’s retirement from the military, especially now that Annalie was getting older and would be starting kindergarten that September. He had missed so many  of their children’s milestones already, and Charlotte would hate for him to have missed Annalie’s first day of school, as well.

“Well peanut, I don’t know what to tell ya!” Charlotte smiled, tickling her youngest daughter’s stomach, emitting a tiny laugh from the child. “It’s way past your bedtime already, and we have a big day tomorrow. Do you know what we’re doing tomorrow?” The blonde asked, taking her daughter’s small hand in her own.

“Competition!” The tiny blonde chirped, clapping her hands together and wiggling around in her mother’s arms. Charlotte let Annalie down, watching her dance about the room, leaping and flipping, and couldn’t help but laugh. “Careful, peanut! You’re gonna hurt yourself!” She called, bending down and scooping the child up as she came bounding forward. “Bedtime. Now.” She spoke sternly, but sweetly, carrying the small blonde into her bright pink bedroom, settling her into bed and tucking her in. After three books and a kiss on the forehead, Charlotte flipped on Annalie’ nightlight and turned off the overhead light, the sleeping blonde basked in the glow of bright pink stars.

Heading back in towards the living room, Charlotte began to scoop up toys, tossing them into the three pink toy-boxes lined up against the back wall. She had been meaning to convert their fourth bedroom into Annalie’s playroom, but Nathan insisted on trying for another baby, and didn’t want to commit to having a third bright pink bedroom if there was a chance that they would someday have a son. The thought made Charlotte smile. A little boy that looked just like the two of them, running around and being protected by his two older sisters. It would truly complete their little family.

A knock on the door pulled the blonde from her thoughts, glancing up at the clock. 10:49pm. Surely it couldn’t be Cara; she had a daughter of her own, and wouldn’t dare bring her around so late. Tossing three Elsa dolls into another toy-box, Charlotte made her way across the room, unlocking and pulling the door open. Two uniformed military officers stood before her, and Charlotte knew immediately why they were there.

Shaking her head, Charlotte took a step back, allowing the two men to enter her home. “Mrs. Avery, I have been asked to inform you that your husband has been reported dead in the Anbar Province in Iraq at 2300 on July 14th, 2015. They were in a hum-v, making rounds and drove over a land-mine, and all passengers were dead on impact. On the behalf of the Secretary of Defense, I extend to you and your family my deepest sympathy in your great loss.”

Charlotte clapped her hand over her mouth, trying to stifle the sobs that were racking through her body. This couldn’t be happening. Surely, this was all just a dream. Or a prank. Nathan loved pranks, surely he had something to do with it. However, as soon as she was presented with Nathan’s uniform jacket, Charlotte knew it was real life, and sunk to the ground, clutching the item to her chest and letting the tears stream down her face. Twelve days. He was twelve days away from coming home for good. Twelve days away from reuniting with his daughters. Twelve days away from moving on to the next chapter in life.