My parents help me pack up my stuff. As my dad puts a blanket I had here, I walk over and put on my cap. He notices and stops.

"You're supposed to be helping us pack, you rascal!" He laughs. I smile innocently and walk over.

"Are you sure you can't spend my first day back at home with us?" I ask him. He looks down at me sadly.

"Yeah, I'm sure buddy. I'm sorry," he caresses my cheek.

I look down with tears in my eyes, making my vision blurry. They burn my eyes, but I blink them away to look up and see my mom whispering in my dad's ear. He nods and she smiles at me.

"Do you wanna say goodbye to your friends while we sign some paperwork?" She asks.

I nod excitedly. She laughs, takes my hand and leads me to the room where the activities are. I run in to see Aphmau and Laurance.

"Let me guess," Laurance looks at me and smiles, "You're leaving!"

I nod, "Y-Yeah! I came to say bye to you guys."

The moment I say that, there's a tense silence between us. Aphmau looks sad and Laurance shifts uncomfortably. That silence makes me grab my arm and look around.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't-" I'm cut off by someone hugging me. I freeze.

"Don't get cancer again, okay?" She says and looks up at me.

I nod and she separates from the hug. I feel the heat going to my face. Knowing I'm blushing, I try to hide the fact that I am. While I try and casually cover my face with my hands, Aphmau gives a small giggle.

"Why are you blushing?" She pokes me.

"I-I'm not b-blushing!" I stutter.

Smooth, Garroth. Smooth.

"Yes, you are!" She giggles again.

I cross my arms, "Fine. You win."

She gets into a giggle fit. Laurance and I look at each other awkwardly and laugh. Aphmau eventually stops giggling with a red face. I smile brightly. Laurance smirks and more than likely thinks a sarcastic comment. I look at her bright eyes, for a long time until my mom says:

"Garroth, you need to sign something on the papers. Come with me for a bit?"

I turn around and nod at her. Aphmau looks down sadly, as does Laurance.

"I.... guess this is goodbye," Laurance says.

"Yeah, I-I'll see you guys," I shrug sadly.

"See you," Laurance says. Aphmau doesn't say anything, but she already said goodbye, so she's good.

My mom takes my hand. We walk down the long hospital hall. I peek inside of open rooms, people dying in the cold technology of the hospital.

I promised myself I'm not gonna die like that.

We get into the room where my dad smiles and hands me a paper. He points to a line and smiles at me. I nod, grab a pen, and start writing. I try and write my name as neat as possible, but eight year olds don't have very good handwriting.

"What's that for?" I ask as I hand the paper back to my mom.

"They're your discharge papers," she says. "It means that they'll let you out of here."

I nod and look at the bare white room. I finally get to go back home, finally. But first we have to drop dad off at the airport, mom says. Though I really don't want to.

"Ready to go, Garroth?" Dad asks. I smile and nod. He smiles back, takes my hand, and we all leave the room.

We get to the front desk where my mom starts talking to the person in charge of it. Dad's just listening, so I can get his attention. I tug on the sleeves of his shirt. He looks down at me confused and gets down to my level.

"What's wrong, bud?" He whispers.

"W-Will you be back?" I ask him. He looks away for a moment but almost immediately averts his eyes back to me.

"I'll try, okay?" I like how dad doesn't promise anything like that. He doesn't let me get my hopes up too high for them to be crushed.

"Okay, but you have to try," I say. He laughs.

"Alright, Garroth, I'll try. I promise." He kisses my head as he stands up.

Mom gets done with the papers and looks down at me. She smiles, meaning we can leave. I start walking fast out the door, my dad laughs and my mom calls for me to slow down. I do slow down a bit but not too much. I'm too excited. They finally catch up to me when we get in the door.

I walk outside and immediately squint my eyes, it's really bright when you are in a hospital for a month and a half. I shade my eyes and walk to the black car. I get in and buckle myself, ready to leave.

"Where are Zane and Vylad?" I ask.

"Grandma and Grandpa are going to meet us at the airport, and they're bringing your brothers," she says. I nod and look out the window.

We get to the airport after about 20 minutes. I hop out of the car, nervous to let dad go. I run over to Grandma and my brothers. I think Grandpa is still in the car. Grandma hugs me with Vylad still in her arms. Vylad reaches for mom; he's definitely a mom's boy. So is Zane. Dad walks out from behind mom.

"And there's our Second Lieutenant," Grandma says. He half smiles and nods at her. She smiles back.

"Daddy!" Vylad shouts and points.

"Hi, sport," he ruffles his hair, earning a giggle from Vylad. "I... Think I better get going soon."

Goodbyes go around evenly. Grandma and Grandpa hugging dad, mom hugging him. Things like that. He kisses Vylad on the forehead and ruffles Zane's hair, getting a small grunt from him. He likes his hair nice. He finally gets to me. Tears flooding my eyes, I can't look at him.

"Hey, you're my soldier, aren't you?" He says softly. I look at him confused.

"You beat cancer twice. I'm proud of you, buddy," he hugs me and stands up. Dad points a finger at everyone.

"Now don't any of you be having too much fun while I'm gone," he says. Everyone laughs, even mom through tears.

Dad waves at everyone and we wave back. He leaves into the distance.

I'm your soldier, dad. I'll fight for you.

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MY DAD IS SNORING WHILE IM WRITING THIS. 😫
IM ALSO AT CAMP. HERES A PIC:

IM HYPE.
Thanks for reading! Bai!
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