-1-

“Your next, sweetheart,” the coachman said taking my small bag out of the overhead compartment.

I nodded and  prepared to get up as he handed my bag. When I stood up I felt the locket bounce against my neck. At first I was creeped out by the locket but, I was starting to feel some sentimental value towards it. I always though Mom deserved some kind of symbol or recognition that she had been alive and if this Iocket was all that was left then I should be proud to wear it. Despite Mom's faults I knew she loved me.

I watched as the station—which was characteristically quaint speed into view as the train pulled up. With the help of the coachmen I stepped down and off the train. There was a small group of people waiting for people to come off the train but, I had to walk past them. I hated the feeling of being alone.

When I was outside of the station I double checked  the address I had written down and got in one of the waiting taxi cabs outside the Hartford train station.

“Where to ?,” the cab driver asked

I handed him the sheet of paper and he nodded his head and drove forward. I knew the drive would be a while and after the 20 minutes  he pulled up to a familiar street and I swiped my debit card to pay before stepping into the warm air. I walked down the street of little shops and cafes  until I found the Aqua Grille restaurant, I went inside and took a seat at the bar.

-2-

 “Can I  get you a drink ?,” the bartender asked me

I shook my head no and scanned the dining room of the restaurnat for a familiar face.

“Go ahead, It’s on me,” Rhett said coming from behind me giving the bartender a few dollar bills.

A smile creeped on to my face and I obliged showing  the bartender my driver’s license as he placed a small glass of sparkling champagne in front of me.

The moment seemed inconsequential  as I remembered where I was and what was happening.

“I missed you,” Rhett said

“I missed you,too” I said to him

I put my arms around him in an awkward hug as I was sitting down and he was standing up. Every sad feeling I had about missing him seemed worth it for that little moment.

He picked my drink up and I followed him into the back of the restaurant which was filled with other people our age as well as a Mrs. Clark, Savannah and other people who I recognized as Rhett’s family. I stayed close with Rhett as I didn’t know anybody else but, I entertained the idea of saying hello to them.

Even though it was still hard for me to some extent I enjoyed being around people now, I loved the energy I got from them. Being around other people was what reminded me that I was alive and being in the company of people like Rhett reminded me I was wanted.

Almost 3 years ago I had been convicted of something I had barely known was crime. I had admitted  my faults before the judge and he spared me a prison sentence. He had me placed in a halfway house  for girls where I had to spend my sentence.

I was placed in a dormitory style room and given a little bit of freedom, it did not bother me the same way it bothered others because I was used to being confined. This was different though—while I was here I got help everyday and learned to rehabilitate my life. The people there had given me so much, I had no idea how they did it.

Rhett wandered away from me to greet someone else just coming in  and I saw Mrs. Clark coming towards me. I had never actually spoken to her but, the way Rhett talked about her, I felt like I knew her.

I placed my drink down so, I could talk to her.

“Hi, Mrs.Clark,” I said

“Hello,” she smiled, “You must be Juliana ?”

 I nodded my head

“You came from Florida, right,”

“Yes, I just got in,”

“That’s good,” she said

“You ain’t terrorizing her are you ?” Rhett asked coming back over.

“It’s fine,” I said

"I just had to meet her," Mrs. Clark said knowingly and walked off.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the graduation,” I said

“It’s okay, it was pretty boring—how long you stayin out ?” he asked

“I want to get back home in a few hours—Dad and Tess are expecting me,”

“Let’s catch up somewhere quieter, “Rhett said

-3-

We left the restaurant and I followed Rhett as he walked towards the river where all the ships were docked. I imagined we were going to sit on the pier and talk but, he started walking towards the ships and with him guiding me we walked up  on to the deck of one of the ships.  He stood overlooking the bow and I stood next to him staring into the water. He seemed so calm.

“Is this your favorite plac--,”

He took my fingers in his hands

“You always do that, now ?” he asked

It was a bad habit I had gotten into. Ever since I started signing two years ago I did it whenever I talked, especially when it came to words I didn’t see. Even though I had gotten more comfortable talking I was still adjusting. Especially when I was around people who remembered when I didn't talk.

“Old habit,” I told him

“So, what’s new ?,” he asked

“I have a job now --I’m  working as an interpreter for the county. I had to work in Florida for a year before they decided I was well enough to come here. I’m going to  live with Dad and Tess.”

“Well enough ?”

“After I left the halfway house, I was on probation in Florida. They just wanted to make sure I was okay,”

“Damn, when the fuck did we become adults ? ,” he said to no one in particular

“What are you going to do  ?” I asked him, “What’s next?”

“Well, you know I graduated so now I gotta serve my five years in the Guard,” he sighed

“You’re going to be on this ship ?,” I asked, trying to imagine what it would be like working in a ship like this.

“Naw,” he said, “ I put a bid in to go to New Orleans to be closer to Mama and Savannah and I got it. I’m goin back to Lousiana,”

Rhett was like the winds he told me about. The ones that pulled ships in a specific direction, only it seemed like  whenever I had him in my grasp something was pulling him away from me.

“That’s good,” I said

We stood in silence as small waves crashed against the boat.

“So, hey what’s up with your friends in Florida ?”, he asked

“ Sawyer and Elisa are fine they---,”

“They ain’t married yet ?”

“No,” I said

“I barely know them and I think they should be together," Rhett said " Why don’t they see they are supposed to be together. Why not make it official ?,”

“I don’t know,”  I said,” I guess they are blind to how perfect they are to each other,”

We went into another silence. The only sounds were of Rhett walking around the edge of the boat. For people who hadn’t seen much of each other in 3 years we didn’t have much to say.

“We better get off this ship,” he said taking my hand and leading me off. We headed for the grassy area that was just beside the pier. Seeing a bench just at the edge of the water, I took a seat and Rhett sat next to me.

“Ain’t your Birthday in May ?” he asked  and I nodded my head, “Maybe I can  come back up to Hartford for that ?”

“Maybe,” I responded “You wrote to me saying you were seeing another cadet ? Maybe I can come see you for your wedding,”

“That’s funny,” he laughed, “I was just bullshittin’ around. I just needed a date for some event.  Maybe I come up for your wedding ?”

I shook my head. I had my priorities and some of the things were in a different order now.

There were so many unsaid things between Rhett and I and this time it wasn’t just me not doing the talking.  Even though in the end it didn’t really matter.

“I love you,you know ? ” I said leaning into him and clasping my hand over his.

“I love you too ,” he responded

He put his hand over mine and we held on to each other tightly.

The End

(Right ?)