I Know this Man

As hard as it was for him to have to say, “Goodbye”, he managed to choke the words up. And after he did, the bitterness of it was left on his tongue. He turned to walk away and grabbed his duffle bag from the ground, hoisted it onto his shoulder, and headed for the building that stood before him. Hesitantly, he glanced back, just for one last look at his wife and children. The children stood there, crying and clinging to their mothers’ leg. Their mother smiled at him, reassuring him that it was alright. His wife seemed upset but was obviously holding back for not only the children’s sake, but for her husbands’ and her own as well. As he disappeared into the doorway of the building, his wife’s glossy eyes and forced smile remained in his mind. Immediately that memory was pushed aside. The organized chaos that was happening all around him was serious business. A couple men scurried to shove some remaining items into their many bags while others ran to and fro for different reasons. Although it was early in the morning and the sun hadn’t even rose yet, all of the men were far from tired. The large room was a buzz with men giving orders, asking questions, packing and organizing all of the bags. Without a moments notice, this man was busy preparing for his departure. The thought of his wife and children had been pushed to the back of his mind. The only thought that consumed his brain was to double check that he had packed all that he needed to. Just then a loud voice told the men that it was time to get issued a weapon. A sea of camoflauge ran into another room and formed a single-file line. One after another emerged from a window in the wall with a large gun in their grasp. The man stood there, impatiently awaiting his turn to step up to the window. Moments later, he, too strolled from the window, gun in hand. After a few hours of loading the bags on trucks, obtaining ammunition, head gear, goggles, and so forth; it was time to head to the plane. The men arrived a few minutes early and were instructed to stand and wait for a go ahead from a higher command. With a few minutes to spare the man decides to get in a quick cigarette. Standing outside, looking out onto the runway, the smoke from his cigarette being tossed around in the breeze, the image of his wife nd children again enters his thoughts. He takes a hit of his cigarette. As he exhales he lets some of his anxiety flow out with the smoke. There’s nothing he can do now. There is no turning back or changing his mind. Nothing he can do but return alive. Return to his wife and children. Return from war. These thoughts bring a small tear to the man’s eye, but he quickly wipes it away, careful to make it look like something had blown into his eye from the wind. Suddenly a voice booms that it is “go time”. Men scurry to grab their things and stand in formation. The plane awaits them in the morning light. One by one, they file into the plane, take their seats, and sigh. The man is ready, ready for whatever awaits him the next time his boots touch the ground. His heart beats for his wife and children. The last memory he has of them lingers in his mind as the plane takes off. He will see them again. I know he will. The reason I know this is because that man is my husband….