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Description
I looked out our front window to see the American flag flutter and wave in the slight wind at half-mast. It almost seemed like it was proud of my brother Chance who had been off fighting over in Iraq. I knew I was; so were my mom and dad, but I didn’t know about the rest of the nation. Not many people knew who my brother was. Hell, most people don’t know anyone over seas fighting; some even choose to ignore the war completely and just go on with their lives. But not me, no, I couldn’t just forget. And I never will. It’ll always weigh down in my heart.

My eyes flickered downward and caught sight of the red and white flag with the single blue star in the center. My eyes welled up with tears, but I refused to let them fall. I had already cried enough.

I glanced down at my hands in which I held burned and singed paper. You could still make out the writing though, clear as day.

Faith,

Hey little sis! I’m so happy that you think you found the right guy! He seems okay and al but I won’t know until I meet him at Christmas. Oh yeah, I did forget to mention that I’m coming home huh? Oops. My bad. But seriously, I’m happy for you!

As for me, I’m doing great, well, as great as I can for fighting a war. We’ve gotten shot at a few times but nothing serious, it was just some angry civilians not wanting us here. But other than that I cannot wait to see you guys! I gotta see your smiling face and mom and dad. Ha, I’ll even go for seeing crazy Uncle Earl! I’m sure you changed because I have but I think it’s for the be-

Right there was a squiggle line that went down the page and there was a red spot at the bottom, Chance’s blood. This was his last letter, and he didn't even get to finish it. He was so excited to see us and it was only two weeks away too, but he never did get to see us. We got to see him though. But it wasn’t the happy reunion he had wanted.

I was pretty much fine at the beginning of the funeral. I was standing there with Stan, the guy that Chance was going to meet, with my arm around him. I knew that my eyes were grey today just because I was sad; I also think that it was because Chance loved it when they were grey, he said it made me look mysterious. But I knew I wasn’t going to be like that for long.

Chance chose me as the designated person to receive his flag. When they had folded and it was passed down the line of other Marines, I started to cry. I unwrapped my arm from Stan and held my hands out ready to receive it. As soon as it touched my fingertips, I really broke down. I started to cry so hard that I almost collapsed had it not been for Stan holding me up. I knew this was my final goodbye to Chance and that I would never see him again.

I kept my head up tall though when they started playing taps, even though I had tears streaming down my cheeks. But it didn’t matter to me because now everyone that was there had started to cry. Even Stan who had never met Chance.

“Faith?” Stan had sat down next to me and had his arm around me. He was looking at my hands, at the letter. “Oh Faith. I know this is hard, I know he was supposed to be here. I really would have like to have met him.” I looked over at Stan.

“I know you would have. He and you would have really gotten along. But he is here.”

“What?” Stand asked alarmed. He was at the funeral two days ago and here everyday after that, he ha seen it all. “What do you mean?”

“Well, he’s here in spirit and in everyone’s heart that he touched.” I paused for a moment and looked him in the eye. “That means that he's with you. Even though you never met him, I know that he had touched your heart.”

Stan looked at me and started to cry. I did too. We held each other for hours but I know that it felt like forever. But I know we could get through this because Chance was watching us, I could feel him.

Description
I looked out our front window to see the American flag flutter and wave in the slight wind at half-mast. It almost seemed like it was proud of my brother Chance who had been off fighting over in Iraq. I knew I was; so were my mom and dad, but I didn’t know about the rest of the nation. Not many people knew who my brother was. Hell, most people don’t know anyone over seas fighting; some even choose to ignore the war completely and just go on with their lives. But not me, no, I couldn’t just forget. And I never will. It’ll always weigh down in my heart.

My eyes flickered downward and caught sight of the red and white flag with the single blue star in the center. My eyes welled up with tears, but I refused to let them fall. I had already cried enough.

I glanced down at my hands in which I held burned and singed paper. You could still make out the writing though, clear as day.

Faith,

Hey little sis! I’m so happy that you think you found the right guy! He seems okay and al but I won’t know until I meet him at Christmas. Oh yeah, I did forget to mention that I’m coming home huh? Oops. My bad. But seriously, I’m happy for you!

As for me, I’m doing great, well, as great as I can for fighting a war. We’ve gotten shot at a few times but nothing serious, it was just some angry civilians not wanting us here. But other than that I cannot wait to see you guys! I gotta see your smiling face and mom and dad. Ha, I’ll even go for seeing crazy Uncle Earl! I’m sure you changed because I have but I think it’s for the be-

Right there was a squiggle line that went down the page and there was a red spot at the bottom, Chance’s blood. This was his last letter, and he didn't even get to finish it. He was so excited to see us and it was only two weeks away too, but he never did get to see us. We got to see him though. But it wasn’t the happy reunion he had wanted.

I was pretty much fine at the beginning of the funeral. I was standing there with Stan, the guy that Chance was going to meet, with my arm around him. I knew that my eyes were grey today just because I was sad; I also think that it was because Chance loved it when they were grey, he said it made me look mysterious. But I knew I wasn’t going to be like that for long.

Chance chose me as the designated person to receive his flag. When they had folded and it was passed down the line of other Marines, I started to cry. I unwrapped my arm from Stan and held my hands out ready to receive it. As soon as it touched my fingertips, I really broke down. I started to cry so hard that I almost collapsed had it not been for Stan holding me up. I knew this was my final goodbye to Chance and that I would never see him again.

I kept my head up tall though when they started playing taps, even though I had tears streaming down my cheeks. But it didn’t matter to me because now everyone that was there had started to cry. Even Stan who had never met Chance.

“Faith?” Stan had sat down next to me and had his arm around me. He was looking at my hands, at the letter. “Oh Faith. I know this is hard, I know he was supposed to be here. I really would have like to have met him.” I looked over at Stan.

“I know you would have. He and you would have really gotten along. But he is here.”

“What?” Stand asked alarmed. He was at the funeral two days ago and here everyday after that, he ha seen it all. “What do you mean?”

“Well, he’s here in spirit and in everyone’s heart that he touched.” I paused for a moment and looked him in the eye. “That means that he's with you. Even though you never met him, I know that he had touched your heart.”

Stan looked at me and started to cry. I did too. We held each other for hours but I know that it felt like forever. But I know we could get through this because Chance was watching us, I could feel him.