It was a warm, Autumn evening.

The setting sun left a shade of gold anywhere its rays managed to get reflected off of.

Clouds sailed across the yellowy atmosphere, heading from one side of the sky to the other. All while the last of the singing of the birds were heard as the sound was echoed and carried through the air.

Everything was getting ready for the arrival of night.

A large, family house stood, surrounded by fields and patches of grass, by a dirt road. The countryside.

Such sites and such styles of life were seen quite often outside of the big cities.

A rush of wind ran past the house. It caused a wave of rustling to be heard. The leaves. They all rang, danced against each other.

Below a big tree that was right by the house was a young woman who read her book. On one of the bigger trunks she was sat. She had eyes as blue as the deep ocean sea. Her hair was as dark as the tree trunk she was sat on.

Lifting her leg up, she used it to lay her book on as she let the other swing. She used it for sort of like a rhythm. Something that helped her relax, that helped her calm down.

Adjacent to her, a man, slightly older, was sat on the steps right in front of the house. Eyes as dark as the soil which he had his feet on and hair a little lighter. He was one of the more handsome men in this little town of theirs. Or at least, that's what he was told.

He had a few flowers in his hands. Fidgeting with them, it was more than obvious that he was crafting something.

Both steering their gazes off what they did to each other, their gazes never managed to synchronize. With that, neither wanted to be a nuisance to the other, instead, they smiled before looking back at what they were doing.

Inside the house, through the kitchen and into the living-room, there laid the youngest of them all. Another youthful woman, aged 20.

Claire Emerson, that was her name.

With a deep inhale, she slowly opened her eyes. Just like her brother, her eyes too were a dark. Her hair also contained darkness, it was a deeper colour than his.

Her eyes moved to the wall that was a golden shade, it was painted by the sun itself.

The house was quite, not the usual sound that radiated through her home. Something she definitely wasn't used to.

But she knew that her parents were at home. Today their family bar was to be closed, that's what they told her yesterday. Took a day off right before the holidays arrived. She was due to go back, with her parents, to work after the holidays have passed.

'So where were they?' she thought, stretching before she sat up. Moments later, the smell of her father's stew, cooking outside, was to have given her the answer that she was looking for.

A small smile grew on her face, with her stomach radiating slight pain, slowly beginning to demand food.

With another stretch, she stood up, slipped on her slippers and began her way to one of the two ways out of her house.

She walked through her kitchen.

The door was open, but the only thing that restricted her exit was the door net. With a gentle push, she managed to open it before exiting out onto a wooden platform, the patio.

Right in front of her, sitting on one of the three steps, was her brother, Garrett.

A small smile grew on his lips. "Look who decided to finally wake up!". Turning around, he looked his sister in the eyes. She didn't realise, but the woman who was sat on the tree too rose her gaze to Claire, smiling at her before returning to reading her book.

Claire replied to his comment with a smirk before joining him by sitting down beside him. Immediately, she looked at his hands, spectated what he was doing.

A second of silence passed before Garrett took in a deep breath. Turning his attention back to Claire, he stated, "Hey... remember when you showed me how to make bracelets and crowns out of daises?".

A small smile grew on Claire's lips. "You didn't forget how to make those...".

To which, at first, Garrett replied by furrowing his brows. "How can I?" he began. "The moment you gave me my first bracelet and told me you made it, I wanted to learn how to make them too. They really were just that beautiful...".

Claire couldn't help but let out a giggle at his words. "So even when you were away, you kept on making them?".

"So that I wouldn't forget," Garrett responded, another small smile found its way to his lips. "And it was all worth it...". A pause. He lifted his gaze to the young woman who was sat on the trunk of the tree, reading her book. "Because... that's how I met Meghan.".

From where Claire and Garrett were seated, the descending sun only magnified her already gorgeous beauty.

What was left of the sun and its rays, they both were reflected off the two golden rings, both of which laid on Garrett's and Meghan's ring fingers.

Gazing at the ring on her brother's finger, she smiled at it. Claire was happy for him, he was happily in love.

Garrett became Megan's spouse and Meghan Garrett's a few years ago. But their love dated back to a time before that.

They were in love with each other since they were children. Childhood sweethearts, as Garrett's and Claire's mother called them.

Then, out of nowhere, a thought entered her mind. It caused a shot of pain hit her heart, with sadness and heaviness radiating from her heart, out. Her smile ceased.

From her hands, she gazed up at her brother. "Do you really have to go back?" she asked him. The lump that formed in her throat was the only culprit, the cause of her voice, that held her words, to be so soft.

From looking in the distance, her words caused him to lower his gaze and look down into the dirt. Not too long passed when he glanced at Meghan, who had her eyes on them both, she too was looking for the answer to Claire's question.

Finally, Garrett looked at his sister, a small smile of reassurance appeared on his lips. "But I will be back..." A pause. "I will be back before you know it!".

Claire tried to react to his words, she attempted to smile, but failed in doing so. She wasn't in the mood to give him a fake smile, to fake her contentment.

Garrett took in another breath. "I-I have to go. I have to go, Claire. They need me there. But I think it'll be everything like it was thus far, it'll be nothing serious. Remember when dad, too, was a soldier? He spent less than a year in the army and then came back.".

"Y-yeah, but this is different, Garrett...". A very brief pause followed Claire's words. "Didn't you hear about another war brewing up? It was all in the papers, Garrett.".

Gently, Garrett shook his head in disapproval. "They are just rumours, Claire. You cannot believe something like that. What more, you cannot those kind of people. Those kind who earn money from scaring others.".

Claire was about to say something, she was about to retort, but she chocked up on her own words. In the end, she said nothing.

"You don't have to worry about me. I'll be back, Claire.". A pause. "Just like father... I'll be back before you know it.".

Garrett's words carried something, something that triggered a wave of pain. Agony, aching. His words caused an accumulation of heaviness to occur within Claire, right in her chest. Her eyes filled with tears. 'He'll be going... and who knows when he'll come back.'.

With that thought, Claire couldn't help herself. The sadness was getting all too overwhelming. So, she tightly wrap her arms around Garrett.

She hated herself for when she hitched a breath. She didn't want Garrett to see that slowly she was getting more and more upset.

She could tell that Garrett was trying to reassure her, so she didn't want him to note that his actions counteracted his intentions.

When the lump in her throat gave her the least bit of relief, she took it to her advantage. "I-I am going to miss you so, so much...".

Claire's words left an impact on Garrett. It reminded him of his very first day in the military. The morning he had to leave and the night before. The same sensation resurfaced, and at that moment, he felt like that small, vulnerable soldier he once was.

And he was well aware that, no matter how old he got and no matter how much experience he gathered, this feeling will never go away.

"I'll miss you too..." Garrett began. His words caused his heart too to sink. "I will miss you too, Claire. So, so much. I'll miss you, my sweet, sweet sister.".

Without letting the other know, they both let one, discrete tear flow down their cheeks.

"Do you know how much it hurts, how much it hurts me, the fact that I will be leaving you, our parents and Meghan behind once again? It's killing me, my soul hurts...". Then a very short pause followed. "But... I have to go. I have to go because I am needed. Our country needs me.".

Claire bit her lower lip in hope to, in the least, slow down the further accumulation of her tears. At the same time, she nodded against him.

"No matter what... come back to us. Please, come back to us, Garrett. Okay?".

He chuckled at her words. Not mockingly, but because at the slight ridiculousness he sensed in them. Of course he was due come back to his family. He knew of no other place of which he could have called home.

"Of course I will," he replied.

"You promise?". He heard Claire's voice quiver. The smile that was caused by Claire's words now vanished. The language she used was now meaningless. It was their meaning that he looked into.

She was his sister. Claire wanted only the best for Garrett. She wanted Garrett to come back to her, to their family, healthy and unharmed. She was worried about him, and it was only natural...

So he nodded. "I... I promise.".

Without the notice of Claire nor Garrett, Meghan walked over an sat on the other side of Garrett. With that, she leaned in, embracing both Claire and Garrett in her hug.

A moment of silence followed and after it, they all broke away from the embrace.

Meghan looked at Garrett. "When are you due to go tomorrow?".

At first, he looked at Meghan before answering her question. "8 in the morning... so for you maybe pretty early. But in all the times I've had to go back from home to the army, 8 was the standard time.".

Claire couldn't help but smile at his words, words of irony. "8? Early for me?... pfff.".

"Okay... I know for you those words were pretty much futile, maybe I more so meant that for Meghan.".

And then, before anything else could have been discussed...

"Dinner is ready!!".

A few hours have passed and the night went away. The next day came to switch it.

It was just as the sun peaked by the horizon that the first of the birds were heard singing.

The rising sun also spilt its light upon the fields that were owned by Claire's and Garrett's parents.

Along with working in a bar, their father also made wine out of their own, home-grown, grapes. Though he almost did all the work, Claire and Garrett liked to help him with whatever they could. They liked to help him, they liked to hear others compliment the alcoholic beverage. Compliment their father's hard work, because somewhere, somewhere there, alongside his hard work were also the immense helping efforts given by Claire and Garrett.

They also owned a field that was used to grow olives. For now, they were utilized by being eaten alone but also mixed in with other foods, such as pizzas, salads and whatever else went well with olives. Their mother said that she was to attempt making olive oil, or at least her version of olive oil.

As the sun rose higher into the sky, its rays only basked more and more of the land exposed.

And it was at 6, only sometime later, that Claire woke herself up.

6 in the morning was her usual wake-up call. She had to wake up by this time to go and help her parents harvest anything ready. They were constantly on the clock, they had to complete tasks like these and head for a shelter before the deadly heat of the Summer and Autumn was to have arrived.

Claire and her family lived in such a location, it was one of the closest points to the equator in the whole kingdom.

The sun was strong enough that the daily average temperature during the Summer, and the beginning of Autumn, was to have easily gone up and beyond 35 degrees Celsius. Today's forecast was 38 degrees.

Claire yawned before she sat up, and with a stretch, she looked towards her closed curtain. A small frown formed on her lips. Today, in only two or so hours, Garrett was due to go.

Deciding to set that thought aside, she didn't want it to rain on her parade. She wanted to see this as a time of growth for Garrett. A new opportunity for him.

'But... but what if all the war talk turns out to... to be true?' Claire thought to herself. She cursed herself for allowing such a thought to cross her mind. 'No matter what, Garrett will be okay...' she tried to reassure herself. "My brother will be just fine.".

To stop any more thoughts from dwelling on her mind, she slid herself to the very edge of her bed, before she stood up. And with that, she walked over to her window. Opening up the blinds, she let the early, morning sun flood her dark room with the fresh, morning light.

And at that exact moment, she widened her eyes. 'I have to hurry before the sun gets too strong and the heat becomes unbearable.'.

She dressed up into her everyday clothes before putting on her slippers. Opening the door, quietly, she headed downstairs. Everything seemed quiet.

'Others seemed to be asleep...' she thought. Was a strange site and sound, silence, until recently. Maybe it was the old age her parents approached, or maybe... maybe it was something unknown to Claire, but recently, it was only herself up every morning when Garrett was away in the military.

She went downstairs, and upon her entrance into the kitchen, she was surprised when she saw Garrett, having his breakfast.

"When did you come back?" Claire asked. Last night and this early morning, Garrett stayed with Meghan. They shared his final night before he had to go off to the military again.

"Not too long ago. As you can see, I am just about to finish my breakfast. When I came in, I went and checked up on you, mam and dad and whatnot. And then, I prepared myself some food.". Then a pause, he took a final spoonful of his food into his mouth. "When did you wake up?".

"Literally like a few minutes ago," she replied. With that, Claire approached her brother, and from behind, she hugged him.

He too embraced her, right before kissing her hair. "Are you going out into the field for some grapes?".

Claire nodded against him. Then, breaking their embrace, she took a step back. "You know, better do it now. If I leave it till later, it'll get too warm.".

"Hey, in that case, wait for me. I want to go and help you out," Garrett voiced, standing up onto his feet. Placing his plate into the sink, he looked at Claire. "Can you get all the baskets ready, I just have to get dressed up.". He picked his army clothes from a chair that was tucked under the dining table.

"Are you going to wear your military attire to go out into the field and collect grapes??".

"It's fine. It's not like it's my actual uniform or anything. That's packed away, safe and sound. This is like my... everyday clothes, of which I have thousands in my bag. I like to keep these pair at home. They look pretty elegant, but on top of that, they are pretty comfortable. A very rare combination in life when it comes to clothes, at least in my case it is.".

Claire couldn't help but giggle at his words. "And... I've been the witness of that more than once...".

"Oh, I know!" Garrett replied. Then, silence descended upon them both before Garrett broke it. "So, can you do that for me, while I go and get changed?".

Claire nodded. "Of course I can!". With that, they both headed their ways. Garrett ascended the stairs, while Claire fetched and prepared two baskets for herself and Garrett.

Not long passed when she heard footsteps. Immediately, she knew it was Garrett.

He stepped out and onto the patio. Claire looked at him. He was dressed up in an attire unusual to her. She was not used to him in such clothes. It was a pleasant change.

Her brother looked like a big, strong, handsome soldier.

Claire looked at him, but the more she did, the more and more tears accumulated in her eyes. She tried to brush off the tears, to act as if she was not on the verge of tears. But all her efforts were futile.

Garrett noticed her sadness. He approached her.

"Hey..." he began softly, wrapping his arms around her. "Don't cry, okay?".

His words sent a punch right in her gut. It caused her to let a few tears fall down her face against her own will. What hit her the most was the fact that he noticed, despite her trying to hide her sadness, he noticed.

To his words, she replied with a nod.

Then, with a sniffle, they broke from their embrace. Quickly, she dried up that tear or two which dwelled on her face.

"Sorry... okay, shall we get going?".

She was about to turn around but Garrett stopped her. "A-are you sure, Claire? Are you sure you want to go? If you are too upset, by all means, you can leave this off for another day. You know that, right?".

"No, no, it's fine. I am fine. Either way, dad doesn't need much more grapes to begin making some more wine and whatnot. A couple more basketfuls of grapes should do the job," Claire replied.

Garrett noted what Claire was trying to do, but he didn't reply. He didn't have an adequate answer.

With a basket held by each, they both began their way to the grape fields which were not too far away from their home.

"Are mom and dad still asleep?" Claire inquired, breaking the silence that ruled between them both.

A small smile appeared on Garrett's lips. "Yes, they are.".

"Looks like we finally managed to beat them," she began, allowing a small smirk to dwell on her lips. "We are the early birds now.".

And all Garrett did was nod in response, in agreement to Claire's statement.

Both Claire and Garrett spent 30-40 minutes in the field, harvesting any grapes that were ready to be harvested. Upon filling their buckets, Garrett made a short break and pulled out a pocket watch that their father gifted him for Garrett's 21st birthday.

"What time is it now?" Claire asked.

"It's 7:02 AM. I have a little less than an hour left," he replied, giving Claire a sheepish smile. "Shall we begin our way back?".

Claire nodded. At that exact moment, it was all she could have done. The lump that grew in her throat made it hard for her to speak.

They walked back to the house, and as they closed up towards the door to where the kitchen was, they heard the sound of sizzling and light, female voice. It was their mother.

"Looks like mam is awake," Claire commented. "Do you think we have enough time to make another round?".

Garrett made a slight grimace as he looked at the empty basket, calculating the route in his mind. Biting his lips, he shook his head. "No, I am afraid not.".

Then he hissed, looking down at himself. "I thought I'd have more time because I assumed I wouldn't need a shower, but I was wrong. I am a sweaty mess.".

"That's okay, I'll go out and make another round myself then. I shall be back right before you leave," Claire spoke as she picked her basket back up into her hands.

"Alright," Garrett began. "But just be careful, don't stay out in the sun for too long, okay?".

To his words, Claire rose an eyebrow. A small, amused smirk grew on her lips. "You are talking to me as if I were a child. Dare I remind you that I turned 20 years of age not even two weeks ago.".

Garrett couldn't help but let a small smile evolve on his lips. "And I am very much aware of that. But age will ever change the fact that you are my younger sister. My baby sister. And I, your older brother, have the duty to keep you safe...". With those words said, Garrett approached Claire before he wrapped his arms around her. "You are so, so dear to me, Claire. You know that?".

"Awww..." Claire began. "You are going to make me cry again," she added, trying to smile to counteract her words. To Claire, it was difficult, more difficult than she expected it to be, and it was shown by the quiver in her voice.

Though Claire couldn't see, Garrett replied with a smile of sympathy. Empathy. He knew how she felt. Hell, he felt the same way.

He embraced Claire that bit tighter. "Don't cry. No more crying, okay? Because if you continue crying, you'll make me cry too.".

Claire couldn't help but chuckle. Not even a moment later, Garrett joined her, he chuckled alongside Claire.

And what seemed like seconds later, they separated from their embrace.

"I'll be off the have a shower. And you... don't overwork yourself.". With that, he smiled at Claire.

"It's called hard work, Garrett," she replied, Claire's smile only growing bigger.

A final chuckle came from them both before they went their ways. Garrett to the bathroom while Claire back to the field for some more grapes.

Carrying the empty basket in her hands, within minutes, she reached the field where Garrett and herself were only minutes ago.

From there, she began harvesting more grapes, alone. But, she felt sadness grow in her.

She felt like the more grapes she collected, the sadder she became. Sort of like as if... as if she was collecting her sadness rather than the grapes.

Her heart ached and her soul even more.

Claire took in a deep breath to try to pull herself together, but it didn't work. She knew all too well that what she felt was because of her brother, because of his departure.

She went over this a thousand times, she tried to calm herself a thousand times, but it was obvious that it all hit a dead-end. A dead-end where the road was blocked off by agony. A lump in her throat.

She was glad that she was alone, so here, she allowed herself to let herself cry a tear or two the more she worked to fill up the empty basket.

With the basket filled with grapes, she hurried back home.

She hoped to make it back before her brother had to go, but she had no way to tell the time. She owned no watch, unlike her brother.

And unlike her father, she couldn't tell what the time was simply by looking up at the sun.

All she had was hope. Hope that she'll make it back. Hope to make it back and hug her brother. Make it their last hug until they were to meet again...

Claire approached her family's house, and the closer she got, she heard people conversing.

Getting close enough, she made out the voices to be those of her parents, Garrett and Meghan. Turning the corner, the house got into view. She saw those who she heard only moments ago. Those were Meghan and her parents surrounding Garrett as he had his bags around him. Getting ready.

A sigh of relief escaped her lips. She felt herself relax upon her realisation that she was on time.

'Garrett is getting ready, everyone is outside. That must mean that its getting close to 8,' Claire thought to herself.

Garrett looked Claire's way, he saw her with her basket.

She looked back at him. No words had to be exchanged, they both went over this a thousand times.

'1... 2... 3... 4... 5.....' Garrett began to count to himself. By the time he reached 30, Claire should have emptied her basket, placed it back in its place and walked over to him. '... 24... 25... 26...'. He saw Claire. '27... 28... 29... 30...'. She reached him, the group.

Joining the group, she looked at her parents, Meghan and her brother. "Good morning," she greeted everyone, to which everyone replied back with a "good morning.".

She saw the way her parents gazed at her, smiled her way. "Were there much grapes ready this morning, Claire?" her father asked.

At first, she nodded. "Quite a bit, there are still more left tho.".

"That's alright. We will pick it up from there altogether straight after this then," he replied.

"I can help you too, if you need another helping hand," Meghan volunteered, stepping that bit closer to Claire.

"That will be superb. But if you do have any errands to take care of, please place yourself first before helping us out, is that okay?" their father replied.

"I do have something to take care off, but that's not until like this afternoon. So I'll be free to help out.".

"Alright, that's perfect then. Thank you so much, Meghan.".

Then, Claire's and Garrett's mother approached Claire. "My daughter..." she whispered under her breath before giving her a hug and her cheek a kiss. Next, she gently pulled Garrett towards her. "My children... my gorgeous children.". She embraced them tightly, giving them another kiss each.

Garrett looked at his mother, a small smile of empathy grew on his lips. "Mom, you said you weren't going to cry.".

"I know, I know I said...". She took a pause in order to let the lump in her throat cure itself. But not only that, she stopped herself to allow for her tears to recede from her eyes. "I know I said I won't cry. But you are my child. A part of me... and seeing you parting from us again, it's like taking a part of me away with you.".

Garrett nodded understandingly. His mother's words left a greater impact than he anticipated. He felt a lump grow in his throat as his eyes swelled with tears ever so slightly.

"And me too. I feel the exact same way," his father said, walking over and embracing his loving wife and two children. Then, he looked up at Meghan, and with a smile, he said, "Come here, Meghan. Join the family hug. You are a part of our family now too, you know!".

Meghan did as she was told. She joined the hug, giving pats and rubs of reassurance to Garrett's and Claire's mother, Claire herself and whoever else needed it.

Then, they all heard a sound, a sound of which nearly everyone dreaded the most. The sound of a truck.

They all broke from their embrace, looking back. In the distance, they saw it. The camouflaged truck.

Briefly pulling out his pocket watch, Garrett checked the time. 7:59 AM.

They all moved a step back to allow the truck to pass. Claire hoped that the truck wasn't Garrett's. She hoped that the truck would pass their house and continue to drive on. But her heart dropped when it stopped.

A man, dressed in clothes that resembled something to that of what Garrett wore, hoped off the back of the truck. Claire glimpsed inside the truck, she saw more men, some dressed in clothes the same as her brother.

"Soldier Garrett Emerson!".

"Yes, Sir!!" he replied, saluting the man in front of him.

Claire gazed at him. At Garrett. She never saw this side of him. She knew her brother was tough, but seeing him with such an attitude, it made him a thousand stronger in her eyes - if that was even to be possible.

"Right, you may say your goodbyes to your family members. We will take are of your stuff. But make it quick.".

"Yes, sir!". With that, he turned around and faced Claire, Meghan and his parents. A total change in his demeanor had occurred. A small smile stretched on his lips as he approached his family.

His mother was leaning against her husband, a tissue right beneath her nose, attempting not to cry. But it was obvious that she was slowly failing.

"Mother..." Garrett voiced softly, trying to reassure her. He stepped closer to her, and suddenly, she hugged her son tightly. That was her breaking point. She began to sob.

"M-my son! My son is going again!".

"M-mom... please..." Garrett began, he couldn't help but let his voice tremble. The fact that his mother, the strongest person he knew, cried against him. It made him upset, hurt. She was crying for him. Because of him.

"Promise your mother that you'll be back," she whispered her request to him.

His brows quivered to her words as his heart sent a thump of pain through his body. He took a deep breath before nodding against her. "I promise, mother.".

With that, he then turned to his father. They looked at one another, smiling before giving each other a manly hug. They both patted each others' back.

"You make me proud, son. Not only because of you are busying yourself with the military, but because of everything you did that led up to this moment right here. You hear?". A pause. For the first like in a long, long while, Garrett saw his father tear up.

Without a warning, Garrett was pulled in for another hug. His father's breath quivered. "I love you, son. Don't every forget that, and don't ever think otherwise.". Parting from their embrace, his father held Garrett's head in his hands before giving his forehead a kiss.

Next, he turned towards his sister, Claire.

He smiled at her as she smiled at him. With that, they both approached each other.

"Garrett..." Claire muttered under her breath before she hugged him. He hugged her back. Claire tried to control herself, but began to cry, she couldn't help herself. No matter how hard she tried to fight her tears, she felt a greater degree of pain with her trying not to allow herself to sob, compared when she allowed herself to let it all out.

Garrett felt this. He tightened his embrace around Claire that bit more. "Don't worry. I'll be okay... I'll come back.". A pause. "But until then... please, take care of mom and dad, okay?".

At first, she swallowed whatever was in her mouth before she nodded against him. "Yes. I-I will take grave care of them. Don't have one speckle of doubt in that.".

He let out a chuckle. "I know. I have no doubt in you.". From there, they both split from their hug. Garrett kept his eyes on Claire. "I love you, Claire. I love you, my sweet, sweet sister.". He took her face into his hands and pressed his lips against her forehead, kissing her.

He kept her, in this short embrace of theirs for a few more seconds, allowing a tear to roll down his face.

"I love you too, brother," Claire replied.

With a smile, he turned around to the final person to send his goodbye to. Meghan.

He could see that she was on the verge of tears. She only came closer and closer to letting a tear from her eyes the smaller the distance between them became.

"Meghan, my love..." Garrett voiced. It were these words of his - actually not even that, but simply the sound of his voice - that broke Meghan.

"G-Garrett..." she whispered, embracing him as she cried into his chest.

"Hey, hey, now. There is no need to cry. I'll be back before you know it!" he voiced gently.

"It's easier said than done..." she replied, hitching a breath from her tears.

He couldn't help but chuckle melancholically at her words.

Then, from their hug, he took a small step back and picked up her face. She gazed into his eyes as he looked into his. From there, slowly, he lowered his lips until they met hers.

It was this action of his that caused, evoked more tears to descend from Meghan's eyes.

Lifting his lips from hers, he looked at her, smiling empathetically and wiping her tears away.

And then, his hands descended down, down past her neck, shoulders and all the way to her stomach. From there, Meghan's hands descended and embraced Garrett's.

Then, his lips connected with her forehead.

"I am going to miss you so much..." Meghan began. "We will all miss you so much.".

He nodded against her head. "I-I... I know...". He sniffled as his eyes once again filled with tears. He took a step back and once again looked at everyone of his family members present in front of him. "I will miss you all so, so much.".

"Alright, Soldier. We have to get going.".

With that, he gave everyone a final look before turning around and hopping onto the truck.

He saw the way his mother was held by her husband, and how Claire was embraced by Meghan. They were all in tears.

That thought itself broke his heart, it made him shed another tear himself.

Moments later, the truck started up. And with a large, dark cloud of smoke, the truck drove off. Drove off and carried Garrett away with it...