That night, Claire and her parents drafted a letter of reply that she accepted the Military's call. Accepted their proposal.
Claire did most of the work as she knew a wide range of vocabulary and a variety of expressions that gave the letter that extra boost.
Sending the letter off the next day, it took no more than two weeks for her to have received a reply.
At that time, they also got a letter from Garrett. He apologised for his lack of writing and that he was busy with all the missions assigned.
Garrett told his family that he was doing very well and that there was no need for them to worry. Any signs of threats from the war in his area were very, very close to a minimum, but he didn't keep his hopes up that it was to stay that way.
He also mentioned that he may be kept for a little while longer and that he shouldn't be expected to come back home any time soon.
Near the end, he replied to the happy news that was shared with him. He was overjoyed, delighted. Thrilled and just very glad that he was to be the father of the child that Meghan carried and cherished in her stomach.
By the end, their mother couldn't help but let a tear fall down her face and onto the letter. A tear of joy. "He's okay..." she whispered under her breath before embracing the letter.
With that, Claire embraced her. "Yes. Yes he is...".
When a letter for Claire from the military arrived, it gave all the details as to where she was to stay, what time she was meant to be ready at and the date. One week from then was her departure day.
***
Wednesday morning on October the 18th, the time just passed 6.
Claire woke up, sat on her bed and turned her head towards the curtains that covered her window. Slipping herself to the very edge of the bed, putting her slippers on and standing up, she walked herself over to the curtains, pulling them apart. Opening them up.
She knew that this morning view from her room would be her final one for a long time.
The sky was filled with clouds that promised to bring nothing but rain later on in the day.
Just like on the day when Garrett had to go, Claire helped her parents pick up some grapes and went with her mother to check on the olives.
Coming back to the house and unloading what they managed to harvest, Claire looked at her mother. "What will I wear?... I mean, looking back through the letter, it didn't mention anything specific. Or I must have missed it when I read through the requirements.".
Her mother replied with the shaking of her head. "I didn't see anything see anything written about clothes either. But I do have something that I wanted to give to you. I would like to see how it looks on you, if it suits you.".
Claire nodded. "But I must have a shower first.".
With her doing that, her mother prepared the outfit that she intended for Claire.
"Claire? Come in here, sweetie," her mother called out for her when she heard the bathroom door opening.
In a bra and underwear, Claire walked into her parent's room. Her father was still sound asleep.
"Here, try this.". She handed Claire a beautiful, pastel blue, knee-length dress. Claire adored it but raised a brow when she looked at her mother. It didn't suit the occasion.
"Mom, I am going to a military camp, not some fancy office. I wish I was, but I am not," Claire began. "Look, the dress looks very, very pretty. I really do like it. But it doesn't suit the occasion. Also on top of that, there, it will most likely get ruined. Keep it for when I come back, I might get a nice job in the near future, in which I could have the privilege of wearing such an outfit.".
Her mother nodded her head understandingly. "Yes..." she began. "You... you are right. Sorry, I don't know where my head was at the time of thinking of such an idea," she added, chuckling sadly.
"No, no. There is no need for an apology, mom. Look, I will look and pick something out.". A pause. "Do you want to come with me into my room and look at what it is I want to wear?".
"No, no, it's fine, I have to begin making breakfast anyway...". A pause. "But make sure to show me downstairs, okay?".
At first, a soft smile grew on Claire's lips before nodding. "Yes, of course, mum.".
With that, they both went their ways. Claire to her room and her mother down to the kitchen.
Minutes passed before Claire walked out of her room, dressed up in a pair of dark blue, denim jeans. Her top was covered by a red, checked shirt which was tucked under her bottoms.
Walking to the steps, she could have heard and smelled her mother cooking breakfast. Walking downstairs and into the kitchen, her mother awaited her.
At first, she looked at her, dumbfounded ever so slightly. "You are going to wear... that?".
Claire nodded, raising a brow at her choice of words and tone. "Well yes. This shirt and these jeans were both worn by me very frequently. If I was to show this outfit to a random person on the street, they wouldn't have a clue how old this outfit really is. All I'll say is that it's pretty darn old. And I'll have no... well no, actually, I'll be a little bit sad if this outfit was to be destroyed in the camp. But not as much if that was to be that dress you gave me to try out.".
Her mother nodded her head. "Alright.". A pause. "Also, stay downstairs, breakfast is almost ready.".
***
With Claire and her parents having and finishing their breakfast, they were all ready to send Claire off.
Just like Garrett's departure, they all waited outside, they all laughed, talked to each other, spent these final few minutes they had until they had to part from one another.
Meghan arrived to see Claire off minutes before she had to be collected.
"Claire!" Meghan called out. With that, she walked over to Claire and immediately hugged her. She couldn't but break into tears. "First our Gar and now you..." Meghan added. "Please... please take care and come back to us.".
Claire closed her eyes and she embraced Meghan. She allowed a tear to fall onto Meghan's shoulder before she nodded. "I will, I will come back. And I will come back with Garrett.".
Minutes passed before they saw a vehicle approach their way. It came from the same direction as the truck, which picked up Garrett, drove from.
But this time, the vehicle that approached them looked different. It looked like a bus.
Stopping in front of Claire's home, a loud hush was let out before the door opened. There, a soldier, with a writing pad in his right hand and a pen in his other, disembarked the bus and began his way over to Claire and her family.
Spectating the soldier, she couldn't help but think back to that Captain she met all those weeks ago. She still felt stupid that she didn't ask him for his name.
"Good morning all, out of all of you, who might Miss Claire Emerson be?" the soldier asked. He surprised everyone with his tone, his accent and how sophisticated his English was. His voice was very calming.
Upon hearing her name being called out, she felt a slight sense of fear pressing her chest. Clearing her throat, she stepped forward. "That's me, Sir. I am Claire Emerson.".
The soldier looked in the direction the voice came from. With a smile and nod of acknowledgement, he approached Claire. Pushing his hand out, he spoke, "My name is Lieutenant Mason.".
Accepting his offer of a handshake, Claire replied with, "It's very nice to meet you, Lieutenant Mason.".
"The pleasure is all mine.". A pause followed as he looked into Claire's eyes. "You may say your goodbyes to your family members. I'll take care of your luggage.".
With a nod, she turned around, facing her parents and Meghan. Approaching them, she could feel her eyes swell with tears with each step she took.
She hugged her parents, she embraced them greatly as they did the same. Both her mother and father gave her some money for the trip and to spend while she was there.
At first, Claire furrowed her brows upon receiving such a gift. "Mom? Dad?? No, no, you don't have, honestly. There is no need.". She tried to hand back the money that was given to her. She knew all too well that they needed it more than she did, but they refused.
"No, no..." both of her parents began concurrently.
"Keep it. We gave it to you as a gift. Gifts aren't meant to be returned to their sender," her mother spoke.
"But you need it more than I do, both you and I know that, mom. Dad?".
"Keep it, sweetie. We have more than enough," her father reassured her. "If you wish, you can buy us a souvenir... or something. I don't know, but that's just an idea. That is money for you to spend.".
"Also, sending a letter, getting the stamp, you may need some money to pay and whatnot. Maybe they, in the military, will be generous enough to not have you to pay. Maybe it'll all be paid by them," her mother voiced. "Either way, write to us, just like Garrett, okay?".
"Of course, I will," Claire replied. With that, her mother gave her daughter a final hug before her father too joined for a second.
Next, she walked over to Meghan. Claire could see that she was on the edge of tears. She had one arm crossed around her body and the other formed into a fist by her mouth.
Claire approached Meghan. When she reached an arm-length distance from Meghan, Meghan immediately wrapped her arms around Claire. Claire did the same.
Though they both tried not to, they failed and ended up letting out a sob or two on each other's shoulders.
"Please..." Claire began. "Please, can you look after my parents while I am gone. I don't want to give you a handful of work, but once every few days should be enough, you know?...".
Meghan nodded against Claire. "I was planning on dropping by every day. I can see that they still aren't adjusted to the fact that Garrett is gone. They will feel very lonely once you go now too...". A pause. "And you please... please make it back to us.".
Claire replied by nodding against Meghan. With that, they broke from their embrace.
For one, final time, Claire looked at Meghan as she looked back at Claire. In Meghan's eyes, Claire was like a best friend and Claire felt no different about Meghan.
She gave her parents a final look, admiring them both, thanking them for giving her life. 'If I was to choose to be born again and who my parents will be, without a doubt, I would choose you again, mom and dad.'. With that thought, her eyes swelled once more with tears, and with a wave, she proceeded to walk towards the opened door of the bus.
Right before entering, she glanced back at the people she'll be leaving behind. They were all in each other's arms. Crying, trying to accept the fact that Claire is going.
Just like Garrett, this view broke Claire and she quickly entered the bus so they wouldn't have seen her break into tears once again.
Within a few seconds, she managed to compose herself, but she knew all too well that this wasn't due to last for long. So, quickly, she found herself a seat and took it as hers. A window seat.
The bus was near empty, so her quest to find a seat was very straightforward.
Letting out a silent sigh, she looked out the window at her mother, father and Meghan who still held each other as they waved at the bus, at Claire.
Just as she expected, her chest radiated a pulse of pain through her body, a lump grew in her throat and tears fell from her eyes.
With a hush, the moment Claire dreaded the most had arrived. The bus set of.
Very quickly, the people whom she cared so deeply about went out of sight. Already, the feeling of loneliness began to set in.
With a deep breath, she had no other option but to let it be. She didn't know what to do to make this feeling go away.
So she closed her eyes.
'Forgive me, Garrett. Forgive me as this is the only time I ever broke a promise of yours...'.