I had just graduated Army basic training and my initial training for my job in the field artillery. I was heading home for the first time after nearly eight months. When I graduated high school and left for the Army, it was the first time I had ever been away from home for any length of time. Although I had not been gone very long, eight months seemed like an eternity away from friends and family. I was mostly excited to get home to my girlfriend Katherine, or Kate as I called her. We spent a good bit of time together before I left and she even told me she loved me just as I was leaving. We had a lot of fun together and fooled around every chance we had; however, we never actually went all the way. I was hoping for when I got home we could pick up where we left off.
Kate and I were able to talk about once a week once I finished basic. We also wrote quite a bit in the beginning and talked a lot about her possibly joining me at my first duty station. We had been dating for over two years and I was sure she was the one. During the flight home, I couldn't stop thinking about Kate and the possibility of making love to her. She was going to be picking me up from the airport and I was hoping to talk her into us getting a hotel room for the night.
The plane touched down and I immediately turned my cell off of airplane mode. Before I had a chance to call Kate, three voice mails popped up from her. I immediately got worried that she wasn't going to be able to pick me up. As I pulled up the first voice mail I started to wonder if her car was having issues. It would have been ironic, considering I almost missed my flight to basic training because of the same thing. My heart sunk as I listed to the first voice mail.
Kate: "Hey Jimmy, I hope your flight was ok. Um, I'm sorry but I'm not going to be able to pick you up. So here's the thing. I'm sure you've noticed over the last two months, I've been a little distant. It's just that my first year in college has been so busy, and um. Look... Oh, I just need to say it."
Then the voice mail stopped. What did she just need to say? I quickly went to the next voice mail. Just as I clicked on it, the captain announced that we had a special passenger who was coming home for the first time after joining the Army. What crappy timing he had. All eyes suddenly turned to me because I was wearing my uniform. My heart was racing and I didn't know what to do. I tried to listen to the voice mail but was interrupted by everyone trying to thank me for my service. As one guy reached out to shake my hand, I dropped my phone. I quickly snatched it up and put it in my pocket.
Getting away from the gate was brutal. I needed so badly to listen to what Kate said in that voice mail. It was like torture as I was bombarded with handshakes and a dozen hugs from a group of old ladies in some sort of red hat club. Finally, I was able to dart into the men's restroom and find an empty stall. I fumbled frantically to get my phone out and went to the voice mail. "Oh shit!" I thought. I looked at the screen where there were three voice mails and only saw two. I clicked on the first one and it was the one I already listened to. I immediately clicked on the second one.
Kate: "Sorry about that. I keep hitting the beep. Anyways, I promise we will talk in a few days. I just want you to take some time and think about everything I said. Take care."
"Take care," I thought. Kate never said take care. I would expect "I love you" or something, but not "take care." I had to know what she said. I wasn't going to be able to wait a few days to talk. I called her and it went straight to voice mail. I must have called twenty more times before giving up. All sorts of different scenarios went through my head. I tried to be optimistic, but knew that something just wasn't right. I walked towards the security exit with my mind captivated by the voice mail. Several people spoke to me as I passed, but I didn't respond. I am sure their comments were related to my uniform, but everything around me was a blur.
As I walked out of the security exit, it hit me that I didn't know how I was going to get home. My parents lived over an hour away from the airport so a taxi wasn't an option. Then another blur came off of my right side and about knocked me over with a hug. It was my mom. She and my dad were there to pick me up. I was so glad to see them. Dad gave me an awkward hug as usual and my mom again wrapped her arms around my neck. She about choked me and said she was glad I was home again. She then said, "I'm sorry to hear about you and Kate. You two made such a cute couple. I really thought you two would get married some day."
I immediately asked my mom about Kate. I told her about the deleted voice mail and the entire ordeal on the plane. She told me that Kate called her right after I did. I had called my mom just after I got off the phone with Kate before I turned it on airplane mode. Mom said that Kate told her we had broken up and asked if her and dad could meet me at the airport. I asked if she said why we had broken up. Apparently, Kate told my mom that the two of us decided a long distance relationship wasn't a good idea and mutually decided to end the relationship.
The entire ride home I felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. I wanted to scream and punch something, but thought that might ruin my homecoming for my folks. My parents tried to distract me by asking about the Army and what my plans were while I was home. I thought to myself, "My plans were to get a hotel with Kate tonight and fuck like rabbits until the sun came up." All of my plans over the next two weeks revolved around Kate. I didn't know what I was going to do.
We arrived home and I told my parents I was wiped and really needed to just crash. I apologized for my mood and they told me it was expected considering the news I just received. After my shower, I hopped in bed and pulled out my phone to try and call Kate again. Right before I began to dial, my phone vibrated with a text. It was my cousin Shannon.
Shannon: Welcome back jackass! Love Ya!!
Shannon: What are you up to tonight?
Me: I was just getting ready to dial Kate when your text popped up.
Shannon: I thought you two broke up like two months ago.
Me: What???????
Me: I just found out tonight when I landed at the airport and my parents were there to pick me up instead of her.
Me: She broke up with a voicemail.
Shannon: That is seriously F d up!