I closed the distance before picking up the frame. The glossy photo laid unchanging within, and I clutched the solid wooden frame in my hands. My reflection stared back at me in the thin sheen of glass that covered it. My arms were wrapped around Evelyn’s petite frame as we smiled into the camera. Her wild hair went in every direction, but her honey-colored eyes were bright, happy. It was a moment of pure bliss. One glance and I was back in my teen years with Evelyn beside me. I went from being in love to broken and miserable almost ten years later.
Evelyn was the epitome of perfection. She was all mine before I went and fucked it up. I pulled the pocket watch she gave me from my back pocket. It went everywhere I did. My fingertips grazed over the smooth, gold surface. Inside of it was a clock and a photo of Evelyn and me from prom, kissing like we were madly in love—which we were. I hadn’t opened it since the day I left, the memories were too painful. It had to be the best-traveled watch in the world. It stuck with me as I deployed in different countries, said goodbye to good men, and lost my leg.
“Fuck,” I said, gripping it so tight in my palm that I shook. Being here was going to be hell. My thoughts were haunted by Evelyn. She must’ve had a family by now. The thought alone caused my heart to twist in my chest cavity. I didn’t know what she’d been up to or if she was even in Violet Ridge anymore—not that it was any of my business.
Nausea swirled unrestrained in my empty stomach. My head swam with half-formed regrets of not reaching out to her. My blood had become tar as my heart struggled to beat. Regret hung over me like a black cloud wherever I went. Regret for leaving Evelyn, and regret of not being a good enough soldier.
The plastic black comb slipped from my fingers and bounced off the floor. My brain stuttered, and every part of me went numb as my thoughts caught up to what I was just told. The numbness faded to be replaced by a heartache that was like a lump of red hot coal taking up space in my chest, scalding me from the inside.
Mrs. Rockwell stopped by my salon to get her hair dyed as close to her natural blonde as she could to cover the gray that was peppering through. I loved the woman, but whenever she was around, my mind would wander to Flynn. I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind for the majority of her appointment until she dropped a huge bomb on me.
“He’s back?” I placed a hand on my chest, and I could almost hear the clattering of my heart against my ribcage.
Her eyes softened, as she slowly nodded. “I was as surprised as you are, dear. He called me up a few days ago saying he was coming home. I didn’t believe it until he showed up yesterday. Was like seeing a ghost, I’ll tell ya.”
My stomach knotted, and I found it increasingly difficult to breathe. Flynn was back in Violet Ridge. “How is he?” I asked, my voice hoarse.
“To be honest with you, I wouldn’t know if his friend hadn’t called me before he arrived. Some young boy, Oliver.” She shook out her freshly dyed hair. “Apparently, Flynn had been in the Army all this time. He got hurt and has some serious physical injuries.”
My eyes shifted to the side and became glazed with a layer of unshed tears. As I blinked, the salty tears slid down my cheeks. He was hurt? I bit my lip in an attempt to hide the sob that wanted to escape from my mouth. My lower lip quivered as words slowly made their way out. “He actually did it? Enlisted in the Army?”
Flynn had talked about joining to have more of a purpose in life. He’d wanted to serve his country and make himself a better man. I thought he was perfect as he was, but he said he’d lacked structure and craved the discipline. I’d been supportive, and encouraged him to go after what he wanted. I never thought he’d just up and leave to join. I would’ve backed him in his decision.
“He won’t tell me what exactly happened.”
I glanced back at her as she dabbed her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Rockwell.”
She shook her head. “I’ve missed him. It’s good he’s back. I just wish it was under different circumstances.”
I understood what she meant. I missed him too. Ten years later, and I missed him just as much as the day he left. I missed his muscular arms that used to wrap around me when he’d hold me. I missed his gray eyes that I’d get lost in every time I’d look at him. I missed his voice and the way we used to talk for hours. I missed our sleepovers, where he never once tried to pressure me to sleep with him. He respected my decision to wait until marriage, even though the temptation was there.
I missed everything about Flynn Rockwell, and I dreamed about the day he would come back here. I just wished he did so without getting hurt.
I bent down and picked up the comb before dropping it in the alcohol at my station. “How much has he changed?”
She let out a shaky breath. “He’s a man now, and he’s definitely struggling with his demons.”
I nodded. “I’ll be prayin’ for him.”
She patted my arm. “I know you will,
