Flare of Hope

Contrary to popular belief, I wasn't alone my whole life. At one point, I did have friends. At one point, I was happy. But, as friendships come, they can fade just as easily. As Mom says, these are the events that shape me.

It was around February, 2011. The day that I would meet the friends that would change my life forever. For better, and for worse. I had just graduated boot camp, and was placed in medical hold, to wait until I was medically cleared to transfer to my next command. This is where I met Marc Benton, and Erik Marton. At first, I was kind of a loner, but Marton was the first to approach me. Not long after this, I found out that the two of us were exactly alike. We were both musicians, we had the same sense of humor, and we both studied magic. I found it to be slightly odd that fate would deliver such a friend to me, but refused to question it. Then came Benton. This one was also a meeting that felt like destiny had a hand in it. Benton was a tech geek just like me. We enjoyed the same kinds of movies, and games. And just like Marton, he studied magic as well. At this point, there was no denying that the forces of destiny were somehow involved. Although, I had no idea just how involved.

If fhings weren't already turning out to seem rather coincidental, I found out that we were all waiting to be cleared to transfer to the same school. At this point, I felt as though fate itself was trying to speak to me. After a few months of being in medical hold, together, Benton was the first to transfer, then a few weeks later, I was cleared, and was on my way to Sub School. A few weeks later, the gang was back together, when Marton arrived. We had quite a few fun adventures, road trips, and whatnot, until the day that I was kicked out of Sub School. That's when I was sent to the Hornet. After a few weeks there, I received a phone call from Benton, saying that he was coming to Norfolk, as well. I was happy to have at least one friend there.

Everything was going… okay. And a month later, I got a call from Erik. He was getting ready to transfer to his new ship, which eas in dry dock in the Norfolk area. I couldn't believe it. At this point, I was sure that there was someone out there, watching over me. Someone who wanted me to be happy.

Things were great, once my two best friends were here. We would hang out, go to the movies, and go to the bar, doing what sailors do. Well, one night out, I was playing the role of "responsible sober person:" A role that was passed on to the next of us three in a set rotation each time we went out. Well, as fate would have it, the night that it was my turn, I happened upon a brown-haired beauty smiling at me from her own group of intoxicated friends. Of course I smiled back. What man in their right mind would fail to return a smile to that kind of beauty? After a few minutes of exchanging glances, and smiles, I decided to ask Marton if he knew this woman. He laughed, and explained to me that her name was Myra Star, and that she had checked into medical hold not long after I left. I wanted to talk to ger, but was way too shy. Needless to say, when we left the bar, I was still single, but now, I had this woman on my mind. I couldn't stop thinking about her. Her smile, her light blue eyes. She was like heaven on earth. And I missed my chance. I beat myself up about it for the next couple of days, until it was bar night, again. This time, I volunteered to stay sober again, in hopes of seeing Myra again. I was on a mission. I was going to talk to her. Sure enough, when we arrived at the bar, she wasn't there. I was a little disappointed, but as they say, good things come to those who wait. After about an hour, Myra and her friends arrived. Every bit of courage I had built up turned tail and ran away. It took Marton pushing me off of my stool to get any kind of reaction out if me. I got up off the ground, and gave him a glare. Upon hearing a faint giggle coming from the small group of females, I looked over and saw Myra giggling at me. Now was my chance.

I walked over to the group, choking back the urge to turn and run, the entire way over. I was more afraid than ever before in my life. As I came closer, I saw one of her friends push her toward me. And she got up, and started.walking over. We met in the middle of the bar. It was awkward at first, but eventually, we managed to start casual conversation. After a few minutes of that, we were telling jokes, and laughing and carrying on. It felt really nice. Like it was meant to be. A few minutes later, she had to leave, but first, she invited me to a Wiccan drum circle ceremony at the local shop. They held one every Monday night at sunset, and I was more than willing to go. After that, she left, leaving me with a kiss on the cheek. After I watched her leave, smiling as I watched, I returned to my group.

That Monday, Marton and I hopped in my car after work, and headed off to Magic Moonlight, the shop that held the weekly drum circle. When I walked in the shop, I was nearly tackled by Myra. As she hugged me, she told me how she didn't think I'd show. About an hour later, the sun was setting and we all made our way to the back yard of the shop. They had a fire burning in the center of a large circle of sand, which was in turn surrounded by a rock bordered garden with numerous drums placed around the circle. After about an hour, they started the drumming, and people began dancing around the fire. It was a new experience for me, and Myra was about to explain it all. I still remember what she said to me. "The drum circle is a ritual of healing. Some say it can even heal a broken heart." Somehow, I found myself playing one of the drums, watching Myra dance around the fire. I couldn't help but notice the graceful way that she moved, as well as the seductive way that she smiled at me, when she looked at me. She came over to me, and leaned over the drum, holding my hands in place, and kissed me. And I definitely remember the next thing she said. "Let me heal your broken heart, David."

A few days later, Myra and I were officially dating, and she began spending the night at the apartment that Marton and I shared. In those few days, Benton's marriage.had changed him, driving a wedge between him and his friends, so it was just Marton, Myra, and me. Then, the worst day possible came. The day that Marton.and Myra's ship was set to get underway. I was going to miss my friend, and my new girlfriend, but I knew they'd be back. Or so I thought. The morning that they were getting ready to leave, we were all getting ready for work. There was a thick air of forboding. Almost as if we all knew that they wouldn't be coming back. It was horrifying. The only thing that kept me from losing my mind that morning was Myra. She kept a brave face... For me.

Two weeks later, I saw on the news that a US Navy ship had been destroyed by an unknown enemy. I kept watching, and immediately began crying. It was their ship. They were gone.

I never got to tell her I loved her.