Escape

Escape

Maverick watches Sydney hug their parents as she walks inside.

He stays behind waiting for the signal.

He feels more like a stranger than the boy who grew up here.

He takes a deep breath and exhales, trying to settle his nerves.

These are his parents.

They are going to love and accept him no matter what.

“Hey guys, there is someone…someone you are going to want to see.”

That’s his cue.

Before he could freeze up, he takes a step forward in front of the glass door.

In a blink of an eye, he is being dragged inside and smothered with rib-crushing hugs.

His parents are overjoyed to have him home again.

He is too.

Maverick didn’t realize how much he missed home.

Why did it take him all this time to come home?

They find seats on the couches to play catch up, Maverick wasn’t looking forward to that.

He could still feel his medal in his pocket.

It has to be just the right time.

Maybe over dinner.

Maybe never.

Maybe the less they know the better.

Maverick looks to the pictures lined up on the mantle over the brick fireplace.

Pictures of him and Sydney playing together as children, graduating school together.

Him dressed in his uniform for the first time.

Maverick manages to dodge most of the questions with simple answers.

The trip down memory lane is starting to wear down Maverick.

He wishes Harlow could have come with him this weekend with to be his rock.

It’s soon time for dinner and they pile into the car to go to their favorite restaurant.

With a belly full of food, Maverick lays down in his childhood bedroom and falls asleep quickly.

The past week brings up unwanted memories.

He dreams,

“Hey man, we gotta go if we want to escape in one piece!”

“You go on ahead! There are still men trapped back there!”