Searching for Tomorrow (Tomorrows) by Katie Mac, Kathryn McNeill Crane Page A

confusion, destruction, and death in the name of their god.
    These very events were responsible for the fact that my Tripp had met with an Army recruiter, and was planning to enlist on his eighteenth birthday in a few days. He had asked me to make the drive with him to Sylva so that he could introduce me to the recruiter, and afterwards, he had a special date night planned for us. Mom and Dad were letting me skip school that day so that I could go. This daytrip would be one of the first that Liam didn’t go on with us, but he was so excited for Tripp that I didn’t ask any questions. I couldn’t figure out what had Liam so excited, but he wasn’t sharing anything with me.
    Mom and Dad tried to be understanding about my slide towards a melancholy state. I struggled so hard to keep from slipping over the edge, but my heart was splintering into a million pieces. At times, I thought that I was simply being selfish, and then I would catch a glimpse of the news and hear about the impending deployment of thousands of troops. I couldn’t stop the thought that that could be my Tripp very soon. I was thankful that I would have him for at least a few weeks after graduation, and I really felt compassion towards the thousands of parents, spouses, children, and friends who would go to bed and wake up every morning with a prayer of safety for the loved one that was in harm’s way. I too prayed for all of these people. I had even started begging and pleading with God to keep my Tripp safe even though he was still with me.
    Tuesday night found us all together at the dining room table celebrating Tripp’s birthday one night early, since Tripp had plans for us the next evening. My mom cooked a big pot roast with lot of vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy, and cornbread. After supper, she brought out a big seven-layer cake with fudge icing and eighteen flaming candles. I just couldn’t join the others in singing “Happy Birthday.” Instead, I laid my head in the crook of Tripp’s neck and quietly wept at the passing of another year. Tripp kept me nestled close to him with one arm tight around me, and fed me small bites of cake, trying his best to help me shake off the blues that I’d been feeling.
    “ Wrynn, baby. You’re killing me.” Tripp’s voice was soft, his breath warm on my ear. He placed a kiss on my head. “You know I don’t want to leave you, but this is something I have to do. If I stay, if I don’t do this, I will regret it for the rest of my life.”
    “Oh Tripp, I know that. I’m not trying to make this hard, I promise. It just tears me up to think that pretty soon you won’t be here, and I just don’t know how I’ll make it without you. You’re such a huge part of my life and I just don’t want to say goodbye.” With an anguished voice, the hurt was evident in every word I spoke. I tried so hard to rein in my emotions, but I could literally feel my heart cracking under the weight.
    Tripp lifted my chin with his fingers, and brought his eyes level to mine. “It’s not goodbye. I love you with everything I am, and I want to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much I do love you. I’m just signing up, that’s all. We’ve got until the end of the school year to plan the rest of our lives.” He kissed the tears that streamed down my face. “Don’t give up on me now.”
    The tormented look in his eyes told of the hurt I was causing by my actions, and I became determined to keep my agony hidden as best I could. I would need supernatural strength, though, to try to keep a happy face on. I brought my hand up to the back of his head and pulled his lips to mine. Where I intended just a quick kiss, Tripp obviously had other ideas. He brought both his hands to my face and kissed me as if our lives depended on it. I forgot everything but the feel of his lips, the way his tongue danced with mine, the heat from his body that made me want to crawl into his lap. This kiss could have gone on forever