We all ate together, and Trevor introduced me to Mike. He made up a rap for me, and I said I understood why everyone called him Lil Shawty. She broke out into laughter and gave me a big hug. He introduced me to his fiance and we all sat together. I got the chance to meet some of the other guys. He shared stories with the other guys and they all laughed and jeered while sharing stories of Trevor.
I look at everyone around me and realize just how much I missed. He moved into a whole new family. A family I will never really understand. The only ones who understand this feeling is me, May, and any other significant others that joined us here for this ceremony.
"What's wrong?" Trevor whispered to me.
"Oh. Nothing. Just taking it all in." I smile at him, then everyone starts chanting "KISS, KISS, KISS, KISS!" One more person joins after the last until we hear the entire long table chanting and pounding their fists on the table. "Alrighty then." We look at each other and kiss each other. Everyone cheers and bangs on the table.
After dinner, May and I make our way back to our room. We head to bed, and I drift off to sleep. I wake up at 5 in the morning to a trumpet blaring outside. May just rolls over on her side and continues sleeping. I sit up and look out the window. A few minutes later a whole bunch of men came running out. I see Trevor join the group of runners and watch as he makes his way down a trail.
I get a shower and get ready for my day. I get out of the bathroom just in time to see all the guys heading back to the barracks. I go out on the balcony and sit in the plastic chair. After a bit, May comes out and joins me.
"You know something, April?" I looked up at a disheveled woman before me. "I am so happy that you married Trevor." She smiles at me and plops down in the chair next to me.
We sat in silence for a while as we both looked around, taking in the sights before us. Before long, it was time to make our way to the ceremony. May walks with me and slings her arm through mine and smiles with me as we make our way to our seats. The band begins to play and we all sit in wait for each new marine's name to be called to the stage. When May and I heard Trevor's name called, we stood and cheered along with all the guys shouting "Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoo, Hoorah!" And he salutes the man in front of him, turns to the crowd, salutes once again, turns, and makes his way off the platform.
After the ceremony, Trevor finds me and envelops me in a kiss. I tell him how proud I am of him. He leads me through the barracks as he gathers all of his stuff into a big bag. He turns and looks around the building. It's just rows and rows of bunk beds, but the way Trevor looks, it's like he's looking at a mansion.
"I gotta say, I am loving the dress blues on you. I just wish you could have worn that for our wedding." I wink at him. He just laughs and kisses me on the cheek.
We walk out of the building and walk toward May and Lieutenant Ryan. "Sir." Trevor says. And they salute each other. What a strange habitat I've found myself in. It's like nothing I've ever experienced before. But I can tell that May and this Lieutenant Ryan are infatuated with each other. Just the way I am with Trevor.
After the pictures all die down, we get back in the rental and leave Fort Knox. We return the rental at the garage outside of the airport and make it just in time before the gates on our flight closed. We fly back to D.C. and land three hours later. When we deboarded the plane, we see signs that say "WELCOME HOME TREVOR!" Plastered around the baggage claim. A group of our closest friends and family have gathered to welcome my husband back home.
We all meet up at a restaurant, and enjoy fine food and stories that Trevor tells everyone. Most of the stories I had already heard the evening before, but I still enjoyed hearing it again. I excuse myself to go to the bathroom. I go inside the stall and inject my medicine. Then I hear a tap on the door.
"You okay, April?" Hailey knocks on the door.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just taking my meds. That's all." I walk out of the stall, and see a look of concern on her face. "What is it?"
"Are you going to tell him the news that Dr. Miller told you?"
"I was waiting to just share it with everyone at the same time. I knew we were all meeting up. I didn't want to have to repeat it over and over again." She just gives me a deadpan look. Rolls her eyes, and walks out of the bathroom. I look at myself in the mirror and say, "You can do this." Then head back to the table.
I get back to the table to see Hailey eyeing me up and down. I give her the same look as if to say, "I am getting there, okay?" I stand back up, and get everyone's attention. "So, I have some news. I got a call from Dr. Miller the other day." I hear my mother gasp. She can be so dramatic. "I am officially in remission!" Everyone cheers. My mother and Trevor tear up, and they both hug me at the same time. Everyone comes to me and gives me a hug. "I don't have to do immunotherapy OR the bone marrow transplant. Somehow, by the grace of God, I beat the cancer!" We all cheered and laughed and cried happy tears together.
"I love you." Trevor whispers in my ear.
"I love you too." I look deep in his eyes and kiss him.
We get to our apartment, and Trevor lets out a long whistle. "I guess you haven't been here in a while."
"Oh, right. No. Not for like, a month and a half." It smelled musty. He walks back in the bedroom and starts stripping the sheets. "What are you doing?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't sleep on sheets that haven't been washed in a month." He chuckles. I guess I didn't think about that. "I'm throwing these in the wash, and then I'm getting a shower." He kisses me on the cheek and makes his way to the laundry room.
I sat down on the couch and waited for him to be done showering. To my surprise, he came out five minutes later. "That was fast." I exclaim.
"You get kind of used to taking really fast showers in basic." He runs the towel over his hair. Then wrapped it around his waste.
I take in the muscular sight before me. I can feel my breath hitching in my throat. Like I forgot how to breathe around him. I got so used to being here alone, that it almost felt strange to have him back. But I am so glad to be in his presence.