Say You Won't Let Go

The Mission

Tom and Abigail walk through the sliding doors of the oncology wing in the hospital, the 16 year old Abby carrying a fresh batch of her mother's famous cupcakes. "Have you heard anything from Carole or Mav lately?" She asks her father, who had a solemn expression on his face.

     Tom hesitates, looking at his teenage daughter from the corner of his eye. "No, I'm afraid not." He sighs, placing a hand on her shoulder as they continue walking.

     Abigail spots Bradley sitting next to Maverick outside of Carole's hospital room. Bradley's eyes were clouded over, recently he's seemed like he was a million miles away. Abigail didn't blame him, either, because who wouldn't be like this if they had just found out that their mother's very aggressive cancer was back?

     Without saying anything, Abby takes a seat on the other side of her best friend, handing the cupcakes over to Maverick. The two grown men make their way inside of the room.

      Abigail chewed on her lip as she dug through her mind for something that could get Bradley's mind off of all the hospitals and cancer that he's so wrapped into. "Okay, so, when we graduate from the naval academy, what should our call signs be?" She asks, an excited smile spreading on her face. She knew they were both passionate about what they had planned for their future.

     Bradley is silent for a minute, but then a shred of light returns in his eyes as he vaguely glances over in her direction. "Rooster. Mom has little rooster decorations all over the house, they're her favorite. And it's similar to dad's, you know, being in the bird family and all." He replies, sniffling as he twiddles his fingers anxiously.

      Abigail smiles softly. "I think I'm going to make mine Iceberg, everyone can call me Ice like they do my dad." She says, leaning forwards to glance into the room where her dad is being supportive to Bradley's mom. "So, Rooster, where do you hope to get stationed someday?"

      "Hawaii would be cool. But only if I can be there with my wingman, Ice." He smiles.
—

      "If only this were Hawaii." Rooster mumbles into the head piece. Him, Abigail, Hangman, Mallard, and Miami were peering out over the very dry terrain, the enemy territory. They were sent out on the mission just two weeks after Abigail had gotten back into the air.

      The helicopter was loud, but it was chosen to get them to their drop location because four fighter planes soaring through the sky would have drawn more attention to the enemy. At least this way they had a chance.

     "We'll get there some day, Roos." Abigail mutters, holding onto Jake's hand. They were sitting across from Rooster, Mallard, and Miami in the military helicopter.

       Nerves were high, legs were bouncing, but here they were. This was it, the big day.

     "Mind if I tag along? Always wanted to go to Hawaii." Jake chimes in, resting his hand on Abigail's thigh. Every once in a while when he could tell she was starting to freak out, he'd give it a soft squeeze. "Me too." Liliana hums, smiling at Rooster.

     Abigail gazes out at the passing grass that is nearly dried out from the heat, squinting her eyes when she spots something reflective.

     The alarms on the helicopter go off, alerting them of an incoming bogey. That thing Abigail has spotted is rapidly approaching, smoke coming off from the back. Within seconds, no time to react, the bogey makes impact right in the top of the helicopter.

     Everything goes black. There was silence and no pain, Abigail couldn't feel anything. She almost felt as if she were a bird, soaring through the air.

     It was peaceful, grounding. Abigail finally felt an escape. An escape from all of her struggles and worries. But the longe edge was in that dark place, the further that peace started to feel again.