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Waiting Too Long

January 21, 2024 6 Comments

By Bud Pharo

They were best friends, but he loved her as Dante loved Beatrice—at first sight. Did she feel the same? Was she reluctant to make the first move because he might think it foolish?

On the day he told her how much he loved her, she wept at having lost her closest friend. Embarrassed by misreading their relationship, he enlisted to break free of her orbit.

A month into Army training, he received her letter saying she loved him too.

Three months later, he was in combat.

Six months later, he came home—in a flag-draped coffin.

She wept then, too.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rudolph Ferrro says

    January 21, 2024 at 9:07 am

    Beautiful, poetic prose saying to me in my heart and soul to remember when I was in Korea, in the army, in 1964, during the Vietnam war, that my father had died in a horrific automobile accident. And by the time I got home he was already laid to rest.
    And inside, ever since, I cry every so often and miss him greatly, without pause or end.

    Reply
    • Bud says

      January 23, 2024 at 12:45 pm

      Thank you for your service and I’m so sorry for your loss.

      Reply
  2. Kevin says

    January 21, 2024 at 9:08 am

    So much emotion in so few words. Kudos.

    Reply
  3. Chadd Lin says

    January 24, 2024 at 7:21 am

    Heartbreaking, to miss a chance forever

    Reply
  4. Toni Brayer says

    January 24, 2024 at 9:17 am

    Waiting too long is a great title.

    Reply
  5. Gilda Candela says

    January 24, 2024 at 10:17 am

    Painful heart … so sad. ?

    Reply

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