Agent Out of Time

Trent nodded and looked up at me, "Thank you!"

"You're welcome."

I turned to go when Trent spoke up, "Mom says you're going on a trip today."

I nodded.

Trent tossed something jingly at me and I caught it. It was the keys of his Mustang. I looked up questioningly at him.

"A warrior should always have a fine horse to ride." He said simply.

I lifted the keys slightly, "Thank you."

Ella slid into the Mustang and I closed her door before getting in on my side. She was looking at me with curiosity, "So where are we going?"

Emotion gripped me, as I engaged the car and took off a little more speedily than perhaps I should have.

"What's wrong Caleb?" Ella asked, gripping at my arm in a concerned fashion.

"I need to do something that I've put off doing for a very long time and I don't want to do it alone!"

"Caleb honey I'm always here for you!"

"I know that." I said gripping her hand briefly before I had to shift.

Her fingers brushed at my long hair and I received one hundred percent of her attention, as I drove south and it helped, but it wasn't enough. Tears started falling and I was afraid to look at her.

"Oh honey what's the matter?"

I just shook my head negatively and kept trying to focus on driving so that I didn't wreck us. The car was a real pleasure to drive, but the pleasurable experience was lost to me at the moment, as my past played out over and over on the backs of my eyelids.

I drove for hours and Ella didn't ask any more questions, she just did her best to be there for me. She knew what it was though that bothered me, when I pulled through the gates into the manicured lawns, where thousands upon thousands of white crosses dotted the landscape.

I'd never been here, but I knew where to go.

I shut the car off and got out feeling like an old man suddenly. Blindly I started for Ella's door, but she was already out beside me. I gripped her hand desperately and together we headed out across the sea of white crosses.

I found the place, as if my feet had been inexplicably drawn to it. I stared at the little white cross that read, Boaz Longtree.

Overcome with grief I sunk to my knees on the cool grass.

"Hello son. It's been a long time. I know that what's important about you isn't buried here, but is in a far better place than this. Still I thought it would be good to come."