Saving Rain

by Kelsey Kingsley

hold on a sec.” He held up a finger and dug a hand into the bag he'd brought with him. He pulled out a wrapped box a bit smaller than my hand and gave it to me. “Merry Christmas, Soldier.” “Harry, what the fuck?” I turned the box over in my hands. “You're not supposed to get me shit.” He shrugged casually. “You're a free man now. I can do whatever the hell I want. But, hey, don't open it now, okay? Wait until you're in the car or home or whatever.” Home. Fuck, I couldn’t believe I was actually going home. I hated the way my limbs and hands shook as I pulled the duffel bag off my shoulder and put the present inside. Harry didn't get it … or, hell, maybe he did—what the hell did I know? But the thing was, I hadn't received a present—a real, honest-to-God present, all wrapped up and shit—since I had been twelve years old. Mom hadn’t given enough of a shit to get us a tree, let alone buy me a present and wrap it up. With this thing in my bag, I hardly knew what to do with my emotions as I pulled the duffel back up my shoulder and bit at my inner cheek until the urge to cry or jump around like a little kid subsided. I cleared my throat and glanced toward the door. The car was here and waiting, sitting idle in the parking lot. Harry followed my gaze and pulled in a deep breath before saying, “Anyway, I'll see you around, okay?” I nodded, not knowing if I’d ever see him again. Not knowing what I was going to do without him. “Yeah.” “I'm proud of you, son,” he said as another offi...