So, before I post this...I want to say that if it's not accurate, don't judge me...because I've only been to like, one of these..and I don't know what they ACTUALLY do in the military...so enjoy....and stuff....oh, and song credits to Carrie Underwood...because she's basically amazing.
Just A Dream
It was two weeks after the day she turned eighteen
All dressed in white
Going to the church that night
She had his box of letters in the passenger seat
Sixpence in a shoe, something borrowed, something blue
And when the church doors opened up wide
She put her veil down
Trying to hide the tears
Oh she just couldn't believe it
She heard trumpets from the military band
And the flowers fell out of her hand
Jennifer turned down a dirt road, heading to a church. She was late, and knew that everyone would already be there, waiting for her to arrive. Her white dress was sticking to her from the heat, so she clicked on her air conditioner as she stopped at an intersection. She took off a bit too fast; causing a box that had been sitting in the seat next to her to fall to the floor of the car. Her breath caught in her throat, seeing the pile of letters spilled in her car, and noticing the loopy scrawl that was on the envelopes.
Pulling into the church, Jennifer looked around for an empty parking space. The lot was full of cars, so Jennifer had to park out back, on a dying patch of grass. She walked around to the passenger side of the car and bent down, putting the box and its contents back on the seat. Jennifer reached into the back and took out a small bouquet of flowers She checked to see that her mother’s pearl earrings were clasped in her ears, and placed a baby blue handkerchief in her purse. Turning to walk from the car, she felt the small penny sliding around in her shoe, and sighed.
She opened the doors and everyone in the church turned to stare. Jennifer pulled the small veil she was wearing over her face, and fixed her eyes on the ground. Tears were already filling her eyes, but Jennifer was determined to keep her composure. She couldn’t believe that it was truly happening, but when she looked up, she knew that it was. Trumpets began playing softly, and Jennifer made her way to the front of the church, ignoring the stares and whispers of the people around her. When she reached the front, her bouquet fell to the floor, and she was overcome with sobs. Jennifer picked up her flowers and took a seat on the front pew, glancing at the casket ahead of her before bowing her head.
Baby why'd you leave me
Why'd you have to go?
I was counting on forever, now I'll never know
I can't even breathe
It's like I'm looking from a distance
Standing in the background
Everybody's saying, he's not coming home now
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream
Jennifer had met Nick after one of his shows two years previous, and they slowly began dating. He really was a genuinely sweet person, and had been everything she had always wanted. Even when his career was at its peak, Nick always made Jennifer a top priority in his life. They had an amazing relationship, and thought that nothing could stop them. Promises of forever were made, and Jennifer found herself clinging to every word he said.
One night, Nick went to visit Jennifer, to celebrate his eighteenth birthday. Jennifer hadn’t been able to be with him on his actual birthday, because she was still in school. They spent the night talking and having fun, but Jennifer knew that Nick was keeping something from her. At the end of the night, he sat her down and told Jennifer that he had decided to join the military. As much as it shocked her, she really wasn’t surprised. Nick always talked about making the world better, so she figured that the military was just his way of doing so.
Though she was upset that he’d be flying overseas in a matter of weeks, Jennifer knew that Nick would make them all proud. After his announcement, Nick got down on his knees and pulled a small velvet box from his pocket. He asked Jennifer to marry him- once he returned home, and after her eighteenth birthday. Both of them knew that it would be an outrageous thing to do, being so young, but Jennifer agreed nonetheless. Nick sent letters after he left, and the two-along with their parents-planned a wedding for the week after he was to return home.
The letters stopped one day, and no one was hearing from Nick anymore. The day before his return, Nick’s mother got a call. She gathered Jennifer and the family together, and through tears, she and Mr. Jonas told them that Nicholas had died in battle. They all broke down, unable to believe that their son, brother, and fiancée wouldn’t be coming home anymore.
Planning a funeral was difficult, but together, they decided to have it on what would have been Nick and Jennifer’s wedding day. They would carry it out as though nothing had changed-keeping the guests, decorations, and Jennifer’s dress-but instead of a wedding, it would be a funeral for their fallen soldier. Kevin and Joe, along with their parents, went on national television to announce Nick’s death, sending the country-and part of the world-into complete shock and mourning. The young man that they all thought was invincible-the one who had conquered diabetes and who had made a career for himself before he was sixteen-was gone.
The preacher man said let us bow our heads and pray
Lord please lift his soul, and heal this hurt
Then the congregation all stood up and sang the saddest song that she ever heard
Then they handed her a folded up flag
And she held on to all she had left of him
Oh, and what could have been
And then the guards rang one last shot
And it felt like a bullet in her heart
Jennifer sat quietly with Nick’s family as the service got underway. People told stories about Nick, and Jennifer spoke about their relationship, as well as how they were supposed to be married that day. The preacher led them all in a prayer, and then Nick’s three brothers sang a song just for him. Eternity had always been a song that Jennifer had loved, but hearing Frankie’s young voice instead of Nick’s mature soulful one made her that much more sad.
After a small graveside ceremony, the flag that had been draped over Nick’s casket was folded and handed to his parents. Denise walked to Jennifer and held the flag out to her.
“Nicholas would have wanted you to have it, Jen,” she said.
Jennifer shook her head, refusing. “No, Mrs. Jonas. He was your son. I- I couldn’t.”
Denise placed an arm around Jennifer’s shoulder and sighed. “Sweetie, that is exactly why I want you to take this. He was my son, yes. I raised him; watched him grow into the wonderful young man that he was. I’ve got pictures, memories, and satisfaction of the life he lived. He was going to be your husband, and I truly think that he would want you to keep this. You were everything to him, please, take it.”
Reluctantly, Jennifer took the flag from her, tears slowly making their way down her cheeks. A few soldiers fired off their guns, and Jennifer’s heart broke once more as they lowered the casket into the ground. One by one, the people left the cemetery. When she was sure she was alone, Jennifer fell to the ground, weeping uncontrollably. Light rain began to fall, turning her white dress into a canvas for the mud that was splattering around her. Kevin, Joe, and eleven-year-old Frankie soon joined Jennifer. They wrapped their arms tightly around her, all realizing the finality of Nick’s death.
“He’s really gone, isn’t he, Kevin? There’s not going to be a day that we wake up to find him home. Our forever after isn’t going to happen. I- I can’t believe it,” Jennifer said through her sobs.
Consolingly, Kevin replied. “Jen, I’m afraid not. As much as I want to just wake up from this nightmare, I know that it’s not going to happen. But he’s better off…and we’re going to just have to go on with our lives, living to make Nick proud.”
Baby why'd you leave me
Why'd you have to go?
I was counting on forever, now I'll never know
I can't even breathe
It's like I'm looking from a distance
Standing in the background
Everybody's saying, he's not coming home now
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream
There he was; her soldier. Nick was standing in front of Jennifer, his arms outstretched and a smile on his face. Jennifer rushed into his arms, feeling safe for the first time in months. Nick showered her in kisses and whispers of his love.
“Nick, why? We were supposed to be together forever. Why did you have to leave me, Nick? I can’t believe it. You’re…really gone. What happens now? I love you, Nicholas. How do I go on?” she asked.
“Jenny…I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, babe. It was- it was just my time. But you will go on. And no matter what, we are going to have our forever. They may have put my body into the ground today, but I’ll always be with you. I promise. I’ll be right her whenever you need me,” he said, placing his hand gently over Jennifer’s heart before disappearing.
Oh, this is just a dream
