Soldier

My visit with Liam lasted for about an hour and a half, and half of that time was spent in complete and utter silence. Which was nice, considering there was small talk all around us. We got into topics like what we went to University for, and where we wanted to go from here. I said I wanted to lean more towards writing. I love to write and most of it is used against my own will when my hand is carried against the paper.

When he told me he had to go, my heart slightly broke. I liked hanging out with him; It made me feel like someone, he made me feel like someone. I smile and open my car, driving off towards home.

*****

I got home an hour after my visit with him, and realizing how boring my house was, I decided to go on a drive. I hadn't taken one in a while, so I thought why not?

I drove out to the rural parts of England, where it rained the most, and where it had the out-most beauty. I brought along with me my journal so I could write. I parked in a nearby abandoned houses' driveway, walking out to the field and standing in the middle of it. The scenery was obsolete, and I felt like a blanket of cold air just wrapped around me in the middle of a storm. I started to write.

'I see clouds of grey,

and nothing else besides the warmth of the ground underneath me.

I can see vague footprints as I walk along a path that seems is strewn across the field lousily;

I can feel the coldness like a blanket on a child, and the worst part is that I don't feel a thing.

The trees are slumping around me, and my eyes are fixated upon a whirl of color beyond my eyes.

I don't know what to see anymore..'

I set my journal down as the wind picks up. I take my beanie off, and ruffle my hair a bit. A sudden voice calls from the distance.

"How did you find this place?"

I spin to see a figure.

"I drove out here. Who are you?"

He walks towards me, and I see his face: Liam.

"Take a wild guess. Why are you out here?"

"I needed to escape. How did you find me?" I look at him.

"A lucky guess. Sit down, I want to tell you a story."

I sit down on the ground as does he. He sighs and starts his story off.

"When I was about ten years old, I loved this field. I would walk over here and I would just run. I loved to run, you know. Running was my escape, and it still kind of is. But, I would run and I would pretend i was a soldier. I would yell and just be myself out here. My mum would get my by 8, because at ten, that was my curfew. My dad didn't like the fact that I would come out here and basically flaunt myself to the weirdos that roamed around here. But, it was worth it. Days would pass and I would still be out here. I would make forts in the winter, and play in the leaves in the fall. That tree, I would climb in the summer for shade. This was my home for a while.. And I visit about every month. I love this field, which is cliche, but it's true. It's a memory you can never get rid of, you know?" He looks at me.

"I don't know.. I have never really had something like this. All I had was four walls and a single mother who had to raise me and my two sisters alone. I guess she did a pretty good job, considering who I am now. I never let my mother down.. Never once. I was the oldest of all three of us kids, and I had to set the role model for Safaa and Doniya. I moved out on my own at 16, and provided for my sisters because my mother died. I took them in and they lived with me for about 4 years. I got my own house when I was 21, and they went to live with my grandparents in Pakistan."

I look at him and he smiles.

"Tell me your story." He simply states.

"I just did. I moved out when I was-"

"No, I mean your real story." He looks at me.

"What do you mean?"

"Your real story.. What makes you, you."

I thought about it for a second.. And then I found the answer.

"My mother. She died when I was 16 from a rare cancer nobody knew about. I remember sitting with her in her hospital bed, and that was probably the hardest thing I have ever went through. She made the man I am today, and I can't thank her enough for it. She is always right where I want her to be, and always is right by my side. When my dad left us, she was still as strong as an oak that has roots as long and wide as the sun beams." It started to lightly rain. "She was a lovely person, and if I could bring her back, I would. If i could take one look at her one more time, and see her smile or hear her call me one last time, I would be complete. But there is always that hole.. That hole that isn't filled because you don't have something to fill it with. I live alone, and have nobody except you, Liam. And I can't thank you enough for being the one person to change me.. To rearrange my mind a bit. You have been better to me than anybody has." I look at him.

"Zayn. I am so sorry, I didn't even-"

"Liam, it's fine. I think I am going to go.. It's starting to rain." I get up and walk to my car, as he stands there, unable to speak.

It starts to pour when I turn out of the driveway, and he is still standing there, watching me leave as the rain hits his body a couple time, as his figure fades away from my view.

Notes

I am crying. I was crying writing that. Holy crap. Alright, enjoy guys. I am just going to go leave. AND ANYONE SEE THE NEW EPISODE OF AMERICAN HORROR STORY?