Day Seventy-seven - Genesis

 In what proved to be a  a massive sign from the universe that maybe, maybe, me coming back to the air force wasn't that great an idea anyway, abiut three days into my return I'm summoned to the human resources wing and they asked something, that though I can't remember exactly what, but had to do with the length of my contract, clearly opened a window for me to get away from it. And, that window being open, I leapt eagerly through it. I still remember calling Dora on the phone and telling her that I was coming home, so to speak. I'm sure that made her feel somewhat disappointed me, but then again so was I feeling disappointed. Not only when it came to not having felt or experienced what I hoped would be there, but because when given the chance between making the right choice and the easy choice, I stumbled again. I know now, what with the benefit of hindsight - which as we all know is always 20/20 - that I should have just grinned and bear it, and accomplish all the things I didn't during my first stint in the air force. But I felt so disheartened then... it truly made me sad that my expectations were proven to be so far removed from reality. And so, only a few short days after coming back, I was on my way out again. I returned all the gear I'd been given, said my goodbyes, and embarked on that boat that connnected the air base to the mainland - the air base itself is an isthmus, and many who travelled to and from it took the ferry that the navy operated, they had a small detachment there as well -  for the last time. There was no going back, there would be no third chances, and though I would always regret my choice, it's now many years in the past.

Now, about the timing of this I can't be too certain, but I do know that very shortly after leaving the air force for the second time, I started looking for a job and I soon found one. If I'm honest, I can't have been looking too hard, because I said yes to the first thing that showed interest me. Back then, the buzz around town was this huge mall that was being built, and it'd would have everything in it. Somehow, I ended up applying for a job in the supermarket - the same retail chain that Dora has worked on since before I first met her, she's been there for thirty years now - and though I'm sure I applied to the loss prevention department, that was promptly denied to me during my initial interview, and I ended up being assigned to the department that dealt with restocking milk, eggs, yoghurts and suchlike. I was overjoyed at this... not! But screw it, the pay was decent enough, and I said yes. My intitial contract was for seven months only, which coulld be reupped if they so chose, but seven months was all the time I spent there. I didn't really enjoy working there, but I would come to someone who surprised the hell out of me, and we became fast friends - we're certainly the best of friends up to this day.