Rainbows of War.
Awakening to the warm sun rays peaking
through the shades, Brittany yawned and stretched. From the outside nothing
seemed different from any other day, but a recent tragic event had thrown Brittany’s
life into a spiraling chaos. Last night seemed like a dream, but lying in bed
she started to reminisce about the events which had led her to this point of
emptiness and sorrow.
One rainy
spring morning seven years ago, she was heading to a morning lecture. Waiting
in bumper to bumper traffic, she was distracted for just a moment by a magnificent
rainbow stretching from one end of the valley to the other. Losing focus on the
traffic, Brittany was unaware of the car right in front of her. Crash! Oh no!
She had just hit the shiny red truck in front of her. Throwing her head back
against the seat she let out a great sigh! Emerging from the wreck she noticed a
handsome young man who resembled a Hollister model with tan skin, blonde hair,
and tight biceps. This gorgeous man in his early 20’s was the owner of the red
truck she just hit. Glancing at the damage, this handsome guy moved towards her
asking if she was ok.
Almost in tears she apologetically
said, “Yes I am! I am so sorry I didn’t mean to hit you.”
Half smiling he let out a chuckle and said, “I
don’t think anyone means to hit another car.”
Holding his hand out and introducing himself, “My name is Sebastian,”
Obviously shaken by the accident, she
stammered, “Nice to meet you, I’m Brittany.”
Noticing the damage was very minor; Sebastian
suggested just switching insurance information and not involve the police.
Jotting his name and information on a napkin, he couldn’t help notice how
beautiful this girl was. She had long brown curly hair, green eyes, and legs
that could stop any man in his tracks.
Smiling as he handed her the napkin
he said, “Maybe it is good you ran into me. Would you like to maybe go get a
drink sometime?”
Smiling and shocked that this hunk of
a man, she had just hit, would ask her out, she happily agreed that drinks
would be nice.
Three days later,
he finally got the nerve up to call, asking when she would like to go for that
drink.
Giddily replying, “Tonight works for
me.”
“Ok it’s a date!”
Later that evening Sebastian picked Brittany
up and they headed to a small diner on the town boulevard. Sitting across from
each other in the red and white vinyl 1950’s booth, the young couple talked
about everything from their likes, dislikes, hobbies, and history; while
sipping on a few sodas.
The juke box in the corner was playing
a familiar song from the band Dio “Rainbow in the Dark”.
Seeming like just 30 minutes,
actually two hours had passed as the two continued talking.
Sebastian passionately told of his high school
days when he was the captain of the varsity football team. Sipping from the
red-striped straw in her Pepsi glass, soaking in every word, as if she would be
tested afterwards, Brittany listened intently on how Sebastian was currently
working in the local mechanic shop, but ultimately wanted to join the military.
As the evening turned into night, the
two ended their romantic date. Pulling into her driveway he shut the truck off,
leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I had a great time!” he told her as his lips
left her cheek.
Heart beat nearly tripling and goose
bumps running up and down her arms, she replied, “So did I. It was very nice.”
In a slight
daze she clumsily fell out of the truck. Floating up to the door on an
emotional high, she was thinking to herself, “I just met this man, but I
already am falling for him.”
As the summer
continued on, the two love birds became quite an item. Spending most of their
free time together going on walks, picnics, and local baseball games, the
couples love started to blossom for each other.
One
warm August evening, Sebastian came by to pick Brittany up for their regular
date. Driving down the country road the
two chatted as they headed to a quiet, romantic spot by the lake. Pulling up in
the gravel lot Brittany noticed a little picnic dinner set up with, candles and
all the extras. Sitting across from each other the two sat enjoying their meal.
It could not have been any more romantic. Without missing a beat Sebastian
reached into his varsity jacket pulling out a little black box, just as Brittany
was about to take a bite of chicken.
Almost falling off her seat Brittany passionately
looked at Sebastian.
Clearing his throat he started off by
saying, “Brittany I know we just met a few months ago, but with each waking
hour we are apart my heart hurts from missing you.”
Bending down on one knee, while opening
the box, Sebastian pulled out a small silver ring and asked, “Brittany will you
be my wife?”
Ecstatically replying, she said,
“Yes! Yes! I will marry you.” Just like a scene out of a movie the young
couple’s lips met in a hot passionate kiss.
Taking Brittany’s hand, Sebastian
slid the modest ring on her finger saying, “I know this ring is very simple,
but once I get enlisted in the military I will buy you a big diamond ring”
Nearly crying Brittany said, “This
ring is just fine Sebastian. I will cherish it forever and ever. I love you!”
Flying by, the
next couple of weeks just disappeared. It was a warm September afternoon, standing
in front of a mirror with her two lifelong friends Trish and Stacy by her side.
Today was the happiest day of her life. Little had she known the fender bender
a few months ago would lead to this beautiful day. Standing in front of the
mirror, getting ready to marry her love, her two friends were doing her hair
and makeup.
Dreaming of this day since a little
girl, she stood at the top of the staircase dressed all in white, long brown
hair curled and makeup done she looked like a princess.
Awaiting his little girl, her father George was
beaming with happiness as he hugged his baby. With each step, and each heart
beat, she was getting more and more excited.
Seeming like an eternity, they
finally made it to the front of the church. Standing hand in hand with her
love, they each took their vows. In a fairytale like way the priest said, “You
may kiss the bride.”
With this, the newlywed couple
embraced each other for their first kiss as Mr. and Mrs Sebastian, Taylor. Erupting
with thundering applause and cheers, the audience rose to their feet to
congratulate the newlyweds.
Grasping his wife’s white gloved
hand, Sebastian escorted her down the aisle. As they pushed open the doors of
the church, they saw stretching from one end of the sky to the other, a
magnificent rainbow full of color and brightness.
Outside was a shiny black limousine
waiting to whisk the couple off to their honey moon. Climbing into the black
limousine, they waved, and thanked all of the guests for coming.
A few years had passed and now Brittany
found herself surrounded by baby bottles, toys, diapers, and bills; this is her
new life. Happily married for six years, she now is a mother of two boys, one four
years old and the baby just turned 18 months.
The young couple was getting all situated
with family life, and then the call came. After months of preparation, Sebastian
enlisted into the United States Air Force holding the rank of Airman Basic. Unfortunately
for their small family, he was deployed to Iraq just 2 months ago.
Left alone to raise the two young
children, she is forced to get a part time job waitressing in the local diner.
This is the Sebastiane diner Sebastian
had taken her to many years ago for their first date. Each day after work Brittany
rushes home to see if there is a letter from Sebastian. Today was no different.
Leaving the diner she fumbled in her purse
for her keys. Unlocking the car, she climbed in and hurried home to see if a letter
had arrived. Pulling open the metal door on the barn shaped mailbox, she
spotted a small letter made out in her husband’s handwriting.
Not waiting to get inside, she ripped
the letter open to see what her love had written her…
“Dear Brittany,
How are you and the children doing? I
miss you all so much. I got the letter and the pictures. The boys are getting
so big already. It seems like I have been gone forever, when it has truly only
been 2 months. It has been raining here
today. We don’t get a lot of rain, but after the small storms there is a breath
taking rainbow. I am looking up at it right now as I right to you my love. It
is not a good place here. We do not know what will happen, but these rainbows
give me hope.
““God puts rainbows in the clouds so that each of us- in the dreariest and most
dreaded moments- can see a possibility of hope.” - Maya Angelou
If
you ever get sad just think of the rainbows after the storm. I hope all is
going well. We are headed out on a mission today, so I am not sure when the
next time I’ll be able to write to you will be, but know that I love you very
much. Give the boys my love.
Your
knight Sebastian.”
Tears running
down her face, Brittany walked somberly into the house to get dinner ready for
the boys. Amidst all the chaos the boys were making, Brittany picked them up
and gave them a big hug. Looking at each child, she said, “Your daddy loves you
very much.” Over the next week life continued for Brittany as any other day.
A cloudy Thursday
afternoon, Brittany was serving a sandwich with a side of fries to a frequent
visitor of the diner. Walking towards the table, Brittany glanced out the
window to see a Military car pulling into the parking lot.
Freezing in her tracks she focused on
the two men emerging from the car. First, a Casualty Assistance Representative
accompanied by another soldier. Panicking her grip let go of the plate and sent
it crashing to the floor, the sandwich and fries scattered everywhere.
Ever since he deployed she had been dreading
this day. She knew these men were here to talk to her, because Sebastian was
the only deployed soldier in the town.
The two men entered the diner,
approaching Brittany to deliver the worst news anyone could get.
Losing it, she covered her eyes with her
hands and started crying, “NO! NO! Not my Sebastian. It can’t be, it just can’t
be.”
The men
proceeded to tell her that Sebastian was out on a secret mission and his plane
was shot down by Al-Qaida troops.
Reaching into his
bag, the second soldier pulled out a small package and said, “Your husband was in
my unit and he gave me this the night before we left. He wanted you to have it.”
Taking the small package, not knowing
what to do Brittany started walking, and she kept walking.
Where was she going?
She did not know herself. She just
kept walking.
Drops began falling from the sky.
With each drop of rain hitting her, it was harder to see the tears pouring from
her eyes. Finally, soaking wet Brittany made it home.
Awaiting her, was her and Sebastian’s
parents. She was an emotional mess. Entering the house her mama gave her a big
hug. Everything was such a blur.
Pouring herself a glass of wine, she
retired to her bedroom. Lying on her bed while the thundering storm shook the
house, she remembered the small package the soldier had given her.
Opening the envelope, a piece of paper and a gorgeous
diamond ring fell out. The paper had a small note scribbled on it.
“Brittany this is for you, I told you I would get
you a nice ring one day. We are heading out on a mission and I am not sure what
is going to happen so I made my buddy Jonathan promise me to give you this if I
didn’t make it out alive. I love you babe. ”
So many happy memories and now this
one tragic one had brought Brittany to this place. The place of not knowing
what she was going to do, not knowing how to carry on, and most of all not
knowing why. Crying herself to sleep, she dozed off.
Knocking on the door, Brittany’s mama
entered with a breakfast tray. Sitting
the tray down on the night table, mama walked over and pulled the window shades
open; resting upon her face the warm sunrays woke her.
Climbing out of bed it hit her, right
in front of her, a rainbow of strength. The one Sebastian had written about in his
letter. It extended through the sky and into the clouds. Stretching across the
sky and through the clouds it was there to give her the strength to go on.
