The End of the Beginning

Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Before all the rain and wind, before all the death and destruction, many promises were made to me. I was promised we would be together. I was promised we would be happy; that things would get better. I was promised we would all live. But all those promises disappeared with a surge of water and at the tip of a blade. For me, my own promises ended with the searing of my soul… “Well, Captain” said John, beaming, “I told you I’d have you better by Christmas.”

“You did say that,” chuckled William. “And you don’t have to keep throwing the new title around. I don’t need it anymore.”

John ruffled his lips and scratched his temple.

“Will, it’s well deserved after what you did up there. Your mission for those children was nothing but pure heroism.

A ghostly image of Kyung flashed into William’s mind. He heard her screams and his men’s panic. John was wrong though. She hadn’t been his mission. Did John know that? Had anyone known what his actual mission had been? In the confusion of those twenty-six minutes and with the deaths of his team, General Rose, and the secretary of state, it was possible his true orders had been forever lost.

“That wasn’t… I wasn’t…” stuttered William, gripping his cane tightly.

John looked confused. “What is it, Will?”

“Never mind,” William said, shaking his head.

“Listen, Will. Is there anything I can do to keep you in the Air Force? With a few more months of physical therapy and exercise your back will be perfect. You can continue to do great work… and keep me popular,” he said with a wink. “I was finally added to the base Facebook group… only took three years.” “No,” smiled William, “I’m sorry, Doc.” He looked out across the airport through the large windows of the waiting area. Ground vehicles and planes ran about. Boats in the ocean zipped by. Downtown Honolulu shone brightly across the harbor, people going about their busy days. It was too loud. The world was too loud.

“I just need some… time away for a while, Doc. The Air Force will certainly survive without me. I want to thank you for all you’ve done though. Since I first met you on that plane, you’ve been nothing but good to me. Take care, Doc.” “It’s been my absolute pleasure, Captain,” said John, giving William a hug. He pulled back, looking William in the eye. “Now, one last time, are you absolutely sure there’s nothing I can do to change your mind about leaving the Air Force? Nothing? I mean, you’re a captain now, a real deal hero. You could have a command here in paradise with me. Wouldn’t that be fun? It would be nice to have a man so comfortable in the sky as yourself by my side because I, uh...” John trailed off, looking sheepish, “Well, I’m actually afraid to fly. Like, a lot.” “You’re a flight surgeon and you’re afraid to fly,” William said with a chuckle.

“Yes,” John replied seriously. “That’s our secret though, okay? If they found that out, they’d lock me into an F-35 or something and spin me ’til my cows came hurling home. And then I’d get removed from the Facebook page…” “That’s why you looked so nervous and sweaty when I first met you on the plane, wasn’t it?”

“Yup.”

“I’m sorry, Doc, but I can’t help you with that one. And as much as it does sound fun to stick around, I think my time here has been served.”

“I understand, Will. I know you feel you’ve lost your way but you’ll find it again. Get back stateside and relax. Look out at a beach. Watch some movies and, most importantly,” he said, wagging a finger at William, “don’t lose touch. This certainly won’t be the last time we meet, I promise. Our paths will cross again someday; maybe at some Air Force reunion or something like that. Things’ll be different. They’ll get better. And don’t be too hard on yourself. Doctor’s orders.” William nodded appreciatively as they shook hands. He grabbed his luggage and his cane and started walking. Just before he went through the gate, he turned to John.

He said, “I know you mean well, Doc, but don’t make promises. In my experience, promises don’t turn out too well, especially for those making them.”