Ch. 13 | Love Letters

Riley

"Riley, Dear, He sent another letter!" My nurse, Amanda, cheerfully entered my small room.

She had the brightest smile on her face. Mine, on the other hand, was bright red.

"Shush!" I yelled and gently snatched the letter from her, being mindful of the tube that has become my new best friend.

"I miss being this in love." She sighed and plopped down in the chair next to mine.

"We are not in love!" I squealed and slapped her arm playfully.

"Sure you're not." Amanda winked.

I laughed and looked down at the tan envelope. My name was plastered on the back with a heart.

Every week, Leo sends me a new letter. He's been traveling all over due to missions that keep popping up. I was happy and extremely proud of him and my team, but it sucked being benched.

"How many is this?" Amanda asked nodding at the shoebox I kept under my chair.

"10." I smiled and fiddled with the seam. I enjoyed reading each and every single one. Sometimes he included a picture of where he was or himself in some goofy way.

I pulled out a folded paper along with a black and white photo. I held the photo closer to the lamp and saw Leo. He was wearing these awful cargo shorts with a Hawaiian top, his uniform cap on his head.

He held a martini glass in one hand and with the other, he formed half a heart. Why was he never this goofy when we were together in person? I smiled and sighed happily at the picture before moving onto the folded paper, no doubt, the letter.

I unfolded it to see his messy hand writing. If i hadn't known any better, I'd have guessed a 3rd grader had written this.

"Riley,

Hawaii is beautiful. The ocean has the clearest water I've ever seen. I swear, its like looking into a mirror. The waves seem to go on forever. And don't even get me started on the smell. Its always a sweet and salty mixture. I wish you could be here. You'd love it. I hope your treatments are going well. You said in your letter, you're doing better. Getting stronger each day, right? Keep fighting. We need you back on our team. Well, I need you back on our team. I miss having a lunch date. I guess I could always ask private, what do you call him? Douchebag? He could put on a pretty skirt and be my girl for a few weeks.

I miss you. I'll be home soon.

Love, Leo."

Hawaii, huh? Sounds beautiful there. Im glad he's enjoying it.

"So, Anything juicy this time?" Amanda peaked over my shoulder and I handed her the letter.

She was a lonely old gal, I didn't mind sharing my happiness.

"Girl! He's SO into you. Why arent you with him yet?" Amanda groaned and handed me the letter, which I sat inside of the shoebox alongside the photo.

"We're jus-"

"Just friends, blah blah blah. He isnt just your friend, girl." Amanda winked at me and checked the time, "Oh shit! I have another patient. You okay here, honey?" Amanda check the machine and my I.V's.

"Yeah, Im fine, Mandi. Just a little sleepy is all." I smiled at her and she nodded, adjusting my chair before exiting the room.

This kidney failure bullcrap was tiring. I had no energy for anything. I wanted to write Leo a letter, but I could hardly hold a pencil.

I leaned back in the chair and shut my eyes, sleep taking over almost immediately after.

♡

Leo

"Sergeant Perish, You have a phone call." A private peaked into the gym, his eyes trained on the ground.

Im glad my privates understood orders.

"Can it wait?" I asked with a grunt, sitting the weights back on the stand.

"Sir, Its from Willamette Falls," My head flicked to the man standing in the doorway.

"Wheres the phone?" I asked and grabbed my shirt, striding towards the door. Willamette Falls was the hospital Riley had her treatments at.

"In the main office, Sir." The Private opened the door fully and stepped out of the way.

I pushed past him and out the front entrance, The tropical heat hitting me the minute my foot touched the grass.

I made it to the main office in seconds. Fear wasn't something I felt often, but since I've met Riley, Its become an everyday feeling.

"Here for the phone call for Leo Perish." I said to the older Hawaiian woman who sat behind the front counter.

She nodded at the telephone sitting on the opposite side of the room. I muttered a quick thank you before picking up the phone.

"Riley?" I said, my voice thankfully not revealing my worry.

"Is this Leo?" An unfamiliar female voice filled the line.

"It is, and who might you be?" I asked, leaning against the wall. My fist clenching and unclenching.

"Im Amanda, Riley's nurse." The nurse, Amanda, introduced herself and I felt a lot calmer.

"How's Riley?" I asked, lowering my voice so only she could hear.

"She was doing so good for a while. But, If im honest with you, She's not progressed in weeks. She's rapidly losing weight and her charts show nothing but negative numbers." Amanda's voice began to sound shaky.

"What's this mean?" I asked, knowing the answer. But I refused to believe it until she said it.

"She's on her last round of treatment. Riley told me this is the last one she can afford. IF that's the case, She wont be able to fight any longer." I listened carefully and a million ideas ran through my head.

Fly home. Pack her a bag. Take her to all of these beautiful places. She deserved to see them.

Maybe make a few threats to her doctor. Force them to keep treating her.

Pay for her treatments.

The last one is the only one that logically made sense.

"How long until her next treatment?" I asked and grabbed a pen and paper from the desk.

"Wednesday. But unless there's a form of payment, She won't be able to get treated." Amanda and I went back and forth, discussing payment methods, doctors, and the next available flight.

I wrote a check for half a million. My family had grown wealthy from the amount of time my parents spent in the military. Not to mention the compensation checks they received from the government.

I took the check to the local post office and mailed it to Willamette Falls. It'd be there just in time for her next treatment.

I'd be there by tomorrow though.