The Letter

Please...come back here. I can't live like this anymore.

The letter echoed in my mind as my ears popped as I rose up higher and higher. The mountains were what always got to me. Never did like driving upward. Preferred to stay in the same elevation where my ears wouldn't complain. Yet this was an emergency, she needed me. My beautiful lady and my sweet baby girl needed me. I knew she didn't like it when I took long trips, but that was part of the curse of being a truck driver. Stuff gotta go somewhere and often somewhere was far off into the other side of the country.

"Lonely days are gone, I'm a-goin' home cuz my baby just wrote me a letter..." The radio sang, "Well she wrote me a letter, Said she couldn't live without me no more. Listen mister can't you see I gotta get back to my baby once-a more..."

The song felt like it was a theme for me, guiding me to where I needed to be. As old Bertha, my truck that I had rode for at least a decade, helped me climb down the mountain roads and up them again, I thought on all the wonderful times we had. How bright of a star she was and how our little girl was even brighter. Dark in every way, like her mother, ebony beauties in a sea of porcelain and bronze.

There is so much that my daughter and I need to get done...with you.

"In two miles," Bertha interrupted, "Turn right on exit thirty eight to Kansas City," I gave a smile. Not long now, just got to keep going.

"Turn right onto exit thirty eight to Kansas City," She repeated as I did what she told me to. I always listened to the women in my life. They were the most important thing to me. I didn't know what I would do without them.

"Turn left onto I-38 then continue for 50 miles," Bertha told me that I was itching toward the home stretch. Less than an hour now and I would be there. I reached to the side for my phone, pressing the text to speech button.

We can't sleep, we can't eat...we don't feel safe...we...need you.

"I will be home soon baby, don't worry."

Threw it back down, watching it bounce onto the side seat and fall onto the floor. I tried to keep calm as it got close and closer to the turn toward my house. Thankfully the neighbors were far apart, so it wasn't a problem just to park Bertha right then and there. No need to send her back to the truck company lot for now. I'd get my civilian truck later. She needed to come first.

I heard the phone go off again as Bertha told me to turn onto the exit. Ten miles left according to the GPS, ten miles at 60 an hour was 10 minutes but I was going 65 just to get there as many seconds sooner as I could. My phone kept beeping and ringing, but I was almost there anyways. She could tell me all about it when I got there.

My mother is worried about us...she helped me set this up.

I saw a car coming in the distance on the dirt road that lead to my house. As my headlights hit it, I knew who it was. Stopping as fast as I could, I managed to put the brakes on and block the road. Nothing but deep forests on both sides.

"My baby just wrote me a letter...my baby just wrote me a letter..." The song echoed in my mind as I hopped out and she did too, yelling something. She was pulling our daughter out of the car, the little one looked so cute. Her eye patch had finally come off and there was only faint bruising around it. Seems my lady finally got out of her cast too. But...they were running. Running not toward me, but away. I raced after them, this was no way to greet the man of the house! I didn't catch up to her until we got to the door, her barely closing it on me.

I'm sorry...it will work out...I must do this for our daughter...

"Baby! Princess!" I yelled, "LET ME IN! I GOT YOUR LETTER!" I dug into my pockets and pulled it out, smudges and all. The smudges were the parts I didn't like, along with the second piece of paper I got. The government was trying to take her from me. She belonged to me. She was crying as I could feel her try to barricade the door. Rushing around to the back, I felt a sense of urgency as I didn't bother to open the glass door but just pushed it open. Shards flew everywhere, causing the whole place to glitter as I saw the surprised look on my daughter's face. She was still young, but already dripped rubies in such a beautiful way.

"Hey princess," I said with a smile as she stared at me in awe, "I got the letter...you guys will never have to live without me anymore..."

I want...a d-