#self02

Sam was sitting under an oak tree, the wind was lashing out against his skin. It had been a while since he had time to sit and actually think. It wasn't something he normally liked doing. Running from everything always seemed to work for him, but you could only run so far before everything comes back ten times worse. This was happening to him.

He had so many problems held up inside of him. Secrets that he had been living with for years. Some worse than others, but all dark none the less. He had known for a while that he wasn't exactly right in the head, but he would never admit that to anyone. He had an image he had to uphold. He was a broken person, trying to fit the picture perfect role. He wasn't fit to be king, he wasn't fit to be royalty.

The sad truth about everything was that he couldn't do anything about it. It was against his nature, against his culture, against his family. He was trapped in a room, and it kept getting smaller day by day.

It was like a miracle had happened. Dodger had just received an email, that he had to read through a broken screen, that stated he was to return home. He didn't know how it was possible though, because no one was being sent home. The war was just starting, and it was impossible to get out of your contract.

He closed out the email, and sat staring at the broken screen. "No fucking way." He whispered, before a fellow soldier entered his tent. "For you, Dodge." He said, placing an envelope on his desk. The soldier left the area without saying anything else.

Dodger took the envelope, and flipped it over a few times. It was addressed to him, but he was afraid to open it. He stared at it a few minutes, before ripping the letter open. He unfolded it, and began to read. Tears began to pour down his cheeks as he read that his division was getting sent home. That the war was still going on, but the boys had things to do back at Disney. He was to pack his things, and report to the air field in exactly an hour.

He was going to be home..In twelve hours. The timing couldn't be anymore..Perfect. But he was still confused as to what he was coming home too. He wasn't the same man that he was three months earlier. He was..Different.

Dodger rolled over in his bed, and stared out the window. The sun hadn't even said hello yet, the only light was that from the street lamps. He looked at his alarm clock, and frowned. He was leaving in two hours. He had less time than that to get ready, and to say his goodbyes.

He got out of bed, and stretched. He looked around his room, and felt his heart begin to beat. This could be the last time that he would see it. This could be the last time that he would be in this house. He knew the risks that came with enlisting. But he was willing to take the chance.

He got dressed slowly, hating the sound of the dog tags that jingled every time he moved. He was dreading leaving. He was not ready to get on that plan, and go to who knows where. But he had too. He made a choice, and now he was going to have to live with it.

He took one last look at himself in the mirror, and walked out of his room. His family wait for him in the living room. Their faces showed a wide range of emotions. Rita was a sniffling mess, but he could tell that she was trying to hold it together. Pops wore a look of pride, knowing that his son would do well in battle. And Tito..Tito sat with a blank face. He couldn't read it, but he didn't want too.

He walked swiftly into the room, and picked Rita up into a giant hug. He kissed her on the top of the head, and whispered in her ear. "Stay strong." Was all he said, before moving on to his father. He shook his hand, at first, before pulling him into a long hug.

When he was done hugging his father, he just stared at Tito. He nodded his head, and shook his hand. "Later." Was all he said.

He didn't see Oliver..But he figured that Oliver was out saving himself from hurt. He understood it, and he was already planning to write a long letter to his brother. He didn't want him to feel as if he was being abandoned, this was just the choice that Dodger had decided to make.

When he had finally said his heart renching goodbyes to his family, he walked out the house, giving them all one last look. "I love ya'll.." He whispered, before closing the door behind him.

He got into the taxi, taking one last look at his family's house. He didn't know if he would ever come back, and that thought weighed heavily on his heart. He thought about going into battle, about dieing, about coming home in a wooden box. The thought was terrifying, but he was going to deal with it. He was a soldier now. He had to protect his country, and protect his family.

He saw the air port approaching, and took a deep breath. He got out the taxi, and walked to where the rest of the other soldiers were. He stood in line, and slowly lost his identity. He was no longer Dodger Fonzarelli. He was Fonzi,  an E1 who knew his way around a gun. He had already been through some training, and made friends with a couple of the guys.

They all seemed eager, ready to go into war. But he wasn't. He stood in line, ignoring the jokes that came from the others. He kept his hand in his pocket, toying with the silver dollar his father had given him. He had a couple of things tucked away in his pockets. The silver dollar, a small picture of Pascal, a ring that Rita made him when she was little. It was made out of a blue shiny bread tie, and she was very proud of it. He held on to it since she first gave it to him, years ago. He kept his hands in his pockets as he waited to go through customs.