The Rosey Thorn

Chapter 11

“Hello, Rose.”

“Hi, Wade. Ooh, you don’t look so well. Another fight with Mary?” I asked. He had a tired look on his face mixed with annoyance that he was ready to give up.

“I don’t know how you put up with her at times. Lately, all we do is fight. She always wants something. A new bag. New shoes. New clothes. A trip somewhere where her friends are going. Expensive places. Always something and she gets mad when I say no. Saying that I don't love her, that I don't care for her, that her friends partners are always doing something for them.”

“Then she started her tantrum, huh?”

“Yes! I can’t wait for my upcoming mission. I need a break from her. I don’t know, Rose, maybe we are not right for each other. It seems like every day we are arguing. Not only that, she gets so passive-aggressive with me that I feel like I have to give in sometimes. She becomes a whole different person and if I do give in, she's back to her old self.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, Wade. If you break up with her, she’ll be mad. But she’ll also try and make amends. She hates being alone. Every relationship she had, she tried to fix when they had enough of her. After a month of nothing, she moves on to another guy. She doesn’t know how to be single. To be honest, I don’t remember a day when she was not single. As soon as the relationship ends, she’s in a new one. I don't know where she meets these guys or how she finds them.”

“I don’t like to think that she can replace me that easily, but I don’t think I can put up with her anymore, Rose. I know she is your sister. Maybe this mission is coming at a good time. It’ll give me time to think about us. If this relationship is worth keeping. My family keeps saying that I'm lucky I'm with Mary, but I think they say that because looks are a big deal in my family. And Mary is beautiful, but underneath it all she's too much. I know she doesn't want to work and be a stay-at-home girlfriend, but I can't afford her lifestyle on my income alone.”

“Take a breather, Wade. Don’t rush into anything. Mary does love you.”

“I don’t know, Rose. It seems like I’m more of an ATM than a partner. Honestly, I think she wanted me because of you.” 

“Me?”

“Yes. She sees you with Jake, giving you whatever you want, then she goes after me, thinking I’ll do the same, but I won’t.”

“Jake doesn’t give me whatever I want, Wade. I can pay for my own things. He just spoils me without asking me.”

“And you deserve to be spoiled, Rose. You’re one of a kind. You’re kind to others. You’re thoughtful and so good. You don't even need to wear make-up because of your natural beauty. You’re worth it. You’re precious. If I were Jake, I would give you the whole world just because of who you were.”

Wade gave me a soft look as he said those things. The air around us flows gently cooling around us, but I could feel the heat between us. I took a step back to give us some breathing room.

“You don’t know what you’re saying, Wade. I’m just an ordinary woman with an ordinary life. There’s nothing special about me. I just do my job. I’m flattered that you think of me that way, but I assure you I’m nothing special.”

“You are so wrong, Rose. You don’t see it, but everyone else does. Every man in the unit is jealous of Jake. You’re a rare one, Rose, and Jake hit the jackpot with you.”

“Wade-”

“I know you don’t believe it. It’s what makes you so special. Jake is so in love with you. I see how he looks at you.”

I smiled at what he said. Wade was a good friend to both me and Jake. I could always rely on Wade for anything. Our friendship has grown over the years. He was Jake’s first friend when they joined the military. They were so close that they bonded as brothers. Then I came along, and we immediately hit it off at first. There was something that pulled us together. We were so close, we talked about our problems with one another to the point where we could share secrets. There were things I told him that I did not tell Jake. Not because I did not trust him, but because I did not think he would understand. I truly loved Jake, but there were times when I did not have his attention when I wanted to talk about something important. He would be there physically, but not there mentally. If I needed to talk, then I would go to Wade. He would just listen and give me his undivided attention. Wade was indeed a dear friend.

“Go on the mission, Wade, and think about you and Mary. Who knows, maybe it’ll hit you that it’s worth being with her. That you can't live without her. See if you miss her while being separated. When Jake and I are separated, I miss him like crazy that I count down the minutes before we are reunited again. And when we do, it's like the world just stops and all I see is him. If you feel that way towards Mary while being gone, then you may have your answer."

“I guess.”

“Go. You and Jake watch each other’s back. Come back safe and in one piece.”

“Don’t worry, Rose. I will watch out for Jake. Just have those snickerdoodle cookies waiting for us when we get back.”

“You bet.”

And that was the last time I saw Wade. He died on the mission. I never believed his death, but no one would believe me.