Page 66 of Salute, To Bravery
Violet
I t had been a week since Ophelia texted the group chat. Everyone sent their good wishes. I called her, but she didn’t answer. And she hadn’t called back.
Sadness buried itself within my heart and chest, and it sat there, causing the weight of an elephant to lay on my chest. I couldn’t believe that she was gone. I couldn’t believe that I couldn’t be there with her. I couldn’t believe she hadn’t called me back.
I found out that she was traveling across the world through a text message. Aches filled my lungs. I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t allow myself to; I had to focus on this website for Sarah’s business.
I started by looking at many of my self-made templates and started to personalize the website.
It only took me a few hours, and it was easy money at that point.
They didn’t want anything crazy, like a few others did.
I liked the challenge, but I also loved the simple websites.
The minor details that make the website come to life were most fun.
After I finished the website, I heard my phone’s ringtone. I grabbed the phone and saw Ophelia’s name and profile photo come up on my screen.
I let it ring for a while. Ophelia must’ve been busy, but she also ghosted me for a week. Finally, after arguing with myself, I picked up the phone.
“Hello,” I said with a questioning undertone. I wanted—no, needed—answers.
“Hi.” Her voice didn’t sound cheerful like it generally was.
My mind raced with concerns and possible situations that could’ve made her feel that way. I calmed down and responded, “What’s wrong?”
“I just miss everyone. I had some downtime and decided to call you,” she said, her voice soft and tender.
“This is a lot harder than I remember it being.” There was distress in her voice.
“Like, a lot harder than it was. Everyone is stronger than me, it seems. Like, both physically and mentally. I haven’t made any friends because they all have their cliques, and I just—I can’t find myself here.
It feels like I’m a different person, depressed and a loner.
I am not a loner. You know this. I’m a people person. ”
“I know.” I listened to her rant on and on about how Japan was gorgeous but also about the struggles she was having with training.
“I’m sorry that I’m ranting to you, especially after I ghosted you for a week. I was scared of what you would say and how you would react to my going back to Japan.”
“Never feel scared about coming to tell me something.” Fear and anger dissipated from my body as I continued to talk to her.
It felt like only fifteen minutes had passed when I heard someone yelling at Ophelia to get back to work. I looked at my watch and saw that it had been an hour.
“Okay. May I wrap this up?” Ophelia asked, her voice quieter, almost fearful.
“Yes,” the stern voice said on the other side of the phone. That was when I heard the slamming of a door.
“Sorry, but I have a quick question. I know that this is going to be hard on both of us, but will you be my girlfriend?”
My jaw hit the floor, and a smile inches across my stoic face. “Yes!”
“Well, I have to go now. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Okay,” I said, much more merrily than before.
Ophelia sounded a lot lighter and more cheerful when the phone call ended than beforehand.
I put my phone back on the wireless charger, and a smile wouldn’t come off of my face.
Bursting at the seams with happiness seemed the only way to express my emotions.
Anticipation filled me as I looked for Luna’s contact and called her.
“Hi,” I said, almost yelling. “Sorry, I’m just excited.”
“Why?”
“Well, you’ll never guess who just asked me to be their girlfriend?”
“Ophelia?” she asked excitedly.
“Yes! I’m so excited. I was kind of mad because she hadn’t talked to me for a week, but that’s kind of what you need to expect with the Air Force.
The hours over there in Japan are crazy, so I don’t blame her, you know.
I’m just a little sad that she didn’t tell me about it when we talked.
Oh. My. God. How the conversation flowed, it was perfect. ”
“I’m happy for you. I told you that you guys were soulmates.”
“Maybe,” I said.