She stopped, not wanting to let go of her friend.
Anne’s eyes were full of tears.
Beth let go of Anne’s hands and leaned over to hug her. As she did the dam broke and she began to sob. Through her sobs she said, “You have been so much more than a sister to me and I love you so very much.”
Anne held on fiercely to her. “I love you too and right now I don’t feel very strong.”
“You are. We’ll move Heaven and Earth to come back to you. Don’t give up. I never will.”
Beth let go of Anne, straightened up, sniffed loudly and wiped the tears from her eyes. She gave Anne one last kiss on the cheek. She turned and walked over to Jack. She put her arm around him and laid her head on his shoulder.
It was now Sonny’s turn. He put his arms around her and kissed her on the forehead. She could feel his tears falling on her face. He said, “I love you Anne O’Day and I always will, always.”
She completely broke down and began to sob. She couldn’t speak.
He held her until she had stopped sobbing. He then said, “I’ll be back. I promise.”
“Promise?” she said.
“Promise.”
Sonny mustered up all of his strength and started to let go of her, “I have to go.”
She looked up at him and managed a weak smile and said softly, “But if you stay, I’ll make it a day like no day has been, a d…”
She gave a loud sob and bowed her head unable to finish.
Sonny gently hooked his finger under her chin and lifted her head so that she could see him.
With a tearful smile he choked out, “A day without end.”
She laughed and said, a tear in her voice, “Yes, a day without end.”
He kissed her one last time. He turned and the three of them walked towards the ship.
She stood on the pier until the ship was just a speck on the horizon. Her mouth moved and in the softest of whispers she said “Come back.”
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