The Wives of Pastor's, Military officers and conglomerate CEO may not be as known as their husbands but they are also paying their dues by supporting their husbands.
The story wasn't different for Naomi. Her husband Richard has served as a unit commander of the most infamous military team in the force for 8 years. Every soldier in the barracks have a huge respect for them. Where others couldn't possibly go, Team Squadron was your biggest bet.
Even though Richard had earned his spot in the military, his wife also served the country in her own way by being a dutiful wife.
"Babe, remember the one promise you made to me that you will always come back home to me".
Richard knew that it wasn't in his power to make such promises. But he had to because, he couldn't leave his wife alone in this world. He had tried his best to keep his promise to Naomi for 6 years. He got married to Naomi 2 years into his optimum service to his country as the .
Naomi knowing the kind of work he did fought with herself alot before She said yes to date him. Most times, in a whole year she would see him for only 2 months. But the love She had for him was so strong that She had to give in at some point.
Naomi gave birth to her second child, Miranda. Richard was in Cuba for a special mission so he wasn't there on that big day.
Naomi never knew that She would have to raise her two kids alone. Two months after Miranda was born, Naomi got a report that Richard had passed on.
On a Saturday morning, a military officer knocked on her door, holding a flag. Naomi knew what that meant because Richard had explained all the procedures to her.
No explanation could actually encapsulate how much pain this brought to Mary. She didn't know which was even more heart breaking. If it was the fact that the only man She had ever loved was no more and there was no way in hell they were going to tell her how he died, or if it was the fact that his children were going to grow up without a father. She would have to carry all the burden alone.
Her broken heart almost turned to anger and bitterness because Richard broke their promise. She had a feeling that this might happen but She was really optimistic each time because Richard had always come back home for the past 6 years.
Eventually She had to move on at some point. She poured all her energy into raising her children. She made sure Maxwell her son who was 5 years old knew about his father's heroism.
It's been Eleven months and twenty nine days since Richard passed on. The next day was his one year death anniversary. Naomi was so scared because it would remind her again of her greatest loss. So far, She had occupied herself with so much work that it helped her numb the pain.
A part of her knew she had to find a way to release all the stored up emotions.
Naomi stood solemnly in front of the grave site, her eyes cast downward in contemplation. By her side were her two children: Maxwelll who looks up at her with a mix of curiosity and concern, and her little girl, Miranda, just over a year old, who clinged to her mother's hand, unaware of the significance of the moment. The woman's expression is a blend of grief and resilience, her love for her children evident in the way She tenderly holds their hands.
She heard footsteps behind her then She turned, and there He was, Richard, her husband.
The confusion in her eyes were palpable, She didn't have any solid word to say.
What are you doing here? No, no, how is it that you are here right now? You are dead. She turned and looked at his grave site and then turned her gaze back to him. "It is not possible"
Maxwell ran to his Dad, "Daddy!!!" Richard scooped him up, kissed him with tears running down his cheeks. He carried him, walking towards Naomi. Naomi frooze up. There was no manual or a guide book to help one know how to act in this kind of situation.
He walked up to Naomi and pulled her in for a tight. The held each other a long while.
What happened, Babe? She turned aside and wept more. "I never thought i would call you that again".
It's fine, Babe. I'm here. I told you that I would always come home back to you. My unit was attacked, so I tried to save one of my boys and the enemy threw a grenade and my men thought we were caught in the fire. But the militants arrived earlier and took us to their hideouts and we've been there all this while.
You've been through alot Babe, welcome home.
Richard looked and saw his little girl. He couldn't hold his tears back. Naomi cancelled all her appointments for a whole week because she needed to absorb what had just happened.
Thanks for stopping by, friends ❤️❤️❤️