We have heard countless tales of soldiers embarking on war, how they often think about home, and their loved ones, but we rarely hear or feel what their wives and children who were left to wait, had to endure while they are gone.
Juliet was one of those people. She was a new bride to Romio, a U.S. Marine Corp who had been deployed on a mission just two weeks after they wedded. They never even had the chance to enjoy their honeymoon.
Juliet frequently recalled her father's words, spoken on the exact day she informed him of her desire to marry a Marine. His voice was calm but heavy as he gazed at her intently. “Are you prepared to carry the burden, Juliet? A wife of a Marine is strong, yet she experiences loneliness. Though he will be often away due to his duties, his heart will always belong to you". At the time, she smiled and nodded, blinded by love and the thrill of romance. Now, in her quiet moments, those words echoed like prophecy.
The mission was meant to last a few weeks, but the outcome had been unexpected. Now, 8 months after and it's still not looking like she would see her husband any time soon.
Meta AI
She couldn’t just call him. All she could do was sit by the phone, waiting and hoping he would find a free moment to reach her. Whenever she misses his call, might have to wait for one or more days before another one comes through. she would also sit in front of the television, watching Al Jazeera, as if by some miracle she could see his face appear through the screen.
Each time the news said the mission was extended, it felt like her heart cracked all over again. it felt like a fresh mix of bitter leaf juice in her tummy. She often wondered if she had married into loneliness.
Most nights ended with her face buried in the pillow, wet with tears. “Is this what I signed up for?” she would whisper into the darkness. Every morning she prayed only for one thing, that Romio would come back alive.
Her sisters would visit from time to time, bringing with them laughter, chatter, and the kind of noise that evoked memories of her childhood, filling the mansion. For some time, their company kept her distracted and filled the silence with color. But each time they leave, the house would feel emptier than it had before they came.
However, her solitude seemed to draw the wrong kind of attention. Men, including both strangers and those she knew to some extent, attempted to exploit her vulnerability. Even Peter, who was among Romio’s best friends, attempted to get closer. Even with the weight of loneliness pressed on her, Juliet stayed faithful. She had given her heart to just one man.
Nothing could chill Juliet's heart like the shocking news of a bomb explosion or an unexpected assault on soldiers abroad. Every headline felt personal, and every report felt like a terrifying stab. Her heart would pound as she pictured Romio in the middle of the chaos, ducking bullets and fighting to stay alive. Her prayers would already be spilling out, begging heaven not to let his name be among the victims.
Then one evening, her phone buzzed. She grabbed it immediately, as excited as she had ever been to her from him. But this time, it was about to get better. “Baby, I’m coming home,” Romio’s voice echoed, filled with life. “Finally, there’s been an agreement between Israel and Gaza. The war has ended, and we’ve been ordered to return home.”
Juliet’s legs buckled. Tears ran down her cheeks, but this time they were joyful tears. As joy and relief flooded her, goosebumps appeared all over her skin.
That day, she could barely keep her teeth under her lips. An end had finally come to her boredom and loneliness. As she prepared for the return of the love of her life, every corner of the house felt alive again and every single thing made her smile.
