Yours Forever

20 January 2124

Dear Kate,

I hope you and Ally are doing fine. How is she though? Is she doing well? Our baby is already 10! How time flies. I wish I could be around to watch her grow up but I have to be here, I have a duty to protect our country from threats. Don’t worry sweetheart. I’m still safe and I’m alive, but it’s so cold here.

Headquarters just sent us the latest suits and weapons. Remember when I was complaining to you about the heating mechanism in the old suit? Well, they finally fixed it. I find it interesting how tech advancements are happening so fast when it’s war. But then again, I guess they are forced to develop new tech faster because there is a war.

The general said that if things continue at this rate, we’d be able to go home by the end of February, just in time for Ally’s big recital.

Enough of Ally and myself. How have you been, Kate? Are you okay? I’m sorry that I’m not there, beside you, to look after you and Ally, but I promise, I will come home.

I miss you so much.

I have to go soon. They’re just about to do the morning roll call.

Please stay safe, Kate. Keep Ally safe too. I pray to God that the World World III won’t reach home. It’s the worst war yet and not only that, it’s a nuclear war. I know I’ve told you this time and time again and you are most likely keeping up to date with the news but it makes me feel more at ease if I tell you.

I love you, Kate. Tell Ally I love her too. I miss you both so much.

Stay safe.

I’ll be home soon.

Yours forever,
David


20 January 2124

Dear Ally,

How are you today, my little princess? I hope you and Mummy are doing fine back home. Did you have a good day today? I heard from Mummy that you are going on a field trip to a petting zoo soon. Have fun and make sure to tell Daddy all about it when I get back.

It’s night now where Daddy is at. And it’s snowing here. I’m in Germany. Ask Mummy to point it out to you on a map. The Russians deployed a nuclear bomb at our old base. Thank goodness we evacuated when we did. If not, I won’t be writing this letter to you right now.

But that’s enough of the sad parts.

Just between you and me, I think we’re winning the war. We’ve got the upper hand on the enemies and I think they’re going to surrender soon. They’ve already lost so many resources and soldiers and the casualty numbers are growing. They don’t stand a chance against us, so long as Daddy is here.

But, hey, baby girl, I think the war is ending soon, and that means I can go home. Maybe it’ll even end before your big recital this March. Then Daddy can see you dance so gracefully on stage. I’m sure you will do great. Mummy says you have been practicing so much.

I’m so proud of you, Ally.

I need to go now. Daddy’s work is starting soon.

I miss you and Mummy so much.

I’ll see you soon, Ally. I promise.

Yours forever—


The doorbell rings loudly, echoing throughout the living room.

“Mummy! Mummy! The mailman is here!” a little girl says, getting to her feet and running to the door, waiting patiently for her mother to open it.

“I’m coming, Ally!” her mother says, wiping her wet hands on a kitchen cloth when she enters the living room.

She opens the front door to reveal two men in officer uniform and a female medic.

“Oh no,” she mutters. “Please, no.”

“Mrs Kate Evans?”

“Please, officer, please tell me you aren’t here. Please tell me this is not what it seems,” Kate says frantically, tears pooling in her eyes.

The officer gives her a small smile, supposedly a reassuring one. “Mrs Kate Evans, I am Major Johnson. I have been asked to inform you that your husband has been reported dead in Berlin, Germany at 0654 on 20 January 2124. Colonel Evans lost his life due to the shockwave from the nuclear bomb attack at Berlin’s city centre by the French. On the behalf of the Secretary of Defense, I extend to you and your family my deepest sympathy in your great loss.”

“No, please no,” she says desperately. “Major, please no. David can’t be dead.”

“Mummy, mummy, what’s happening?” Ally asks, pulling on the hem Kate’s shirt, her brown eyes full of innocence.

“Ally, go to your room. I’ll explain everything to you later,” Kate tells her daughter, trying her best not to break down in front of her.

Ally nods her head. “Ok, Mummy.”

Kate wait until her daughter walks up the stairs and disappears into her room before turning back to the officer.

He hands her a name card. “If you find yourself needing any forms of support, please contact that number. We will do our best to take care of the families of our fallen heroes.”

“Thank you, Major,” Kate replies, her voice shaking as are her hands when she takes the card and puts it in her pocket.

“We have also found these two letters addressed to you and your daughter among his possessions. I’m sure he’d want you to have it,” he says, passing her two black and grey circular devices.

She nods. “Thank you.” She takes a shaky breath of air, trying to stop her tears from falling.

“Your husband was a good and brave man, I hope you know that, Mrs Evans.”

She nods once again.

“Have a good day, m’am,” Major Johnson says before leaving, along with his two companions.

She watches as they disappear into a car and drive away, until they can’t be seen anymore.

“Ally! You can come down now!” Kate calls, closing the door behind her.
She sinks into the couch, opening her letter with shaking hands, tears streaming down her face.

“Mummy, are you okay?” Ally asks, taking a seat beside her mother.

“Ally,” she whispers. “Daddy’s gone now.”

Ally stares at Kate, confused. “What do you mean gone, Mummy? Hasn’t Daddy been gone since June?”

Kate shakes her head. “I mean, Daddy’s gone to heaven now. He’s not coming back.” She pauses, holding out the other device to her daughter. “Daddy wrote this for you.”

Ally takes the letter from her mother and presses the button in the centre. A projection of a man with brown hair and blue eyes appears and started talking. Kate does the same for her own.

“Oh David,” she mumbles after she finishes the letter. “I miss you too.”

“Mummy. Why did Daddy draw a line here?” she asks, pointing to a long, wavy line after the word ‘love’.

This must be the last thing he was doing before he passed, Kate thought, but didn’t want to say it out loud. She didn’t want to admit it to Ally. Or perhaps she didn’t want to admit it to herself.

“I don’t know,” Kate says, stroking her daughter’s hair before pulling her into a hug.

“Mummy, I miss Daddy,” Ally mumbles into her mother’s shirt.

“I miss him too, Ally.”

“I want him to come home,” she says, starting to cry.

“Me too, Ally. Me too,” Kate replies, using her free hand to brush away the tears rolling down her cheeks. “Daddy died a hero, baby. He died protecting our country. He was a brave man. He’s in a better place now, Ally. And he loves you so much. He’ll be yours forever; always remember that, my princess,” Kate adds, trying to comfort her daughter.

But maybe she said that to comfort herself.

“Daddy loves you too, Mummy.”

Kate pulls away, burying her face in the palms of her hands.

“Don’t worry, Mummy. He’ll always be here with us. He’ll be yours forever too, Mummy,” Ally says, hugging Kate once more in an attempt to comfort and reassure her mother.

“Oh, Ally,” Kate sobs.

“Mummy, look. The sun has come out again.”

Kate looks across the room and sees the sunlight streaming in through the windows. And then, she felt it. That feeling. Hope. Like everything is going to be alright. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, or next week, or next month. But everything will be alright.

Someday.

“Mummy, don’t cry anymore,” Ally says, a smile on her face. “Mummy, Daddy’s here.”


I wish you didn’t have to go so soon. But I know you died doing what you love. You’re so brave. And I’m so proud of you.

I miss you, David.

I love you.

We both do.

Yours forever,
Kate