Meeting him...

It was a friday afternoon when I jumped out of the van with my two green duffel bags filled with camo uniforms and hygiene essentials. Two other soldiers and I walked to the dayroom and what we didn’t know was that this place was going to be a love-hate relationship… but this story isn’t about where it would be but about who I met.

Eight months ago, a guy caught my eye. Not in a breathtaking way. It was a very meaningless moment but it stuck with me. I didn't realize then, but this person was going to be life-changing. He was tall, dark, and handsome. Although that might be a generic way to describe someone, I can’t help but say he was exactly that. Granted, My first look at him was his back side. The uniform that we all wore seemed to flatter his body. I thought to myself, he would never go for a girl like me or that I wasn’t pretty enough. Little did I know how wrong I was.

We were in the same place the next time we saw each other. I remember studying some sort of military rules. Everyone went by last names so he then asked me what my first name was. I told him it was Charity, which happened to be his sister’s name. Not a very romantic moment but once again, it stuck with me. It’s a weird feeling that I can recall the little moments that were insignificant at the time. A part of me really wanted to know what he thought of me but we couldn’t fall for each other. It would have been wrong. Considering we both were loved by another. So I decided to stay away. To avoid growing feelings for someone that I couldn’t have.

Days passed when hanging out with him and a few others felt awkward, I figured there was no spark between us and to move on. I took it as a sign to be with the one I loved before him. The thought that someone else could love me didn’t quite seem like reality anyway. It wasn’t until a group of us would meet to play pool every once and awhile. The guy was goofy and I liked that about him. We would call each other our pool partners. However, I still didn’t consider myself having feelings for one another, but whether it was the beginning of becoming good friends. I had completely turned down the idea of us ever being a ‘thing.’ Later is when the realization of how wrong it was to turn the idea down. I found out he actually liked me, I don't know when or why but it was a compelling feeling. It was a regular day when he texted me in a cafeteria saying that he liked someone. I assumed there was another girl. It would have been nothing more than two friends exchanging secrets. However, the conversation turned into him wanting to know who I liked. Why did he care? Did he think someone liked me? Or was he just trying to put ease to expressing who he liked? But liking someone didn’t quite occur to me. Why would one be interested in a girl that simply didn’t show interest to anyone. Was that the compelling part of me?

However, later that night, he called. His voice was deep and captivating, it made me want more. More of him. It was as if I could give away all of myself at that moment. I can only imagine being in the same room as him, his hands exploring every inch of my body, his lips on mine. I accepted my feelings and expressed everything he was to me.

His presence consumed me, he made me feel safe yet I could explore the world with only him and feel fulfilled. He gave me the butterfly feeling without the anxiety of the unknown. Even though there were entirely too many signals to step away…. I stayed