The week passed and Sharon's presence really wasn't necessary any more. The cast had come off and Samuel had his full mobility back. His bed was returned and her cot taken out. But still she spent most of her evenings in his room. She was behind in her studies and Samuel's tutoring was rapidly bringing her back. The other cadets often asked him how his girlfriend was.
"She's not my girlfriend!" Samuel would answer. They would all look at him with a mischevious grin and say no more.
One evening as they studied Samuel happened to be standing by the window. Sharon was behind him. Her reflection shone on the window and Samuel suddenly realized why he had had that nagging feeling he'd seen her before.
"Why were you in the hospital?" he asked.
Sharon trembled for a moment then spoke. "I had a girlfriend," she announced.
"What's so bad about that?" Samuel asked. "I have alot of boy friends."
"No, you don't understand," his companion continued, "I had a GIRLFRIEND. My mother caught us one day. We didn't know she was coming home early. She said horrible things to Marie, told her never to come near me again. Marie's parents decided to send her off to a school, where she would get counseling. The day before she was supposed to go they found her in their back yard, hanging from one of their apple trees. She'd left a note saying if she couldn't live the way she wanted to, she didn't want to live at all.
I lost it. They sent me up here. I'd been in the hospital two years. Then, I saw you outside, and I began to FEEL things again, to WANT things again."
She got up and closed the curtain on the door. They didn't talk much after that. Samuel thought she wanted the usual thing, but she had something else in mind. When he was done with her she answered his need.
"What was that all about?" Samuel asked when they were done.
"I wanted to see if it was different," Sharon explained.
"Was it?" Samuel asked.
Her only answer was a smile. They continued doing what they first did for some time, then one day just started doing the other.
It was nearly graduation time when Samuel mentioned, "We'd better start being more careful, or we're gonna have ezxtra responsibilities."
Sharon looked at him with a worried expression. "I'm afraid it's a little too late to be careful!" she sighed. "I think we'd better go talk to the Commandant!"
"Really?" Samuel asked.
"I haven't had any tests or anything," Sharon answered, "but I'm almost a month late. I'm pretty sure. Are you mad?"
"Of COURSE not!" Samuel told her. "We knew it was going to happen sooner or later!"
They went up to the commandant's office the next morning. His secretary greeted them with a big grin. "He's waiting!" she remarked.
When they got in the office the Commandant motioned them over, pointing towards a clipboard. "Sign in the appropriate places," he remarked. "As your legal guardian I have full authority to approve the marriage."
"Thank you!" Samuel snapped. "Don't we have to go to the clerk in town to get a license?"
The Commandant nodded. "Take those papers with you," he answered. "He will need them."
"Could you recommend someone sir, to perform the ceremony?" Samuel asked. "We thought we'd sneak off base and get it done quietly."
"What?" the Commandant asked, "And spoil all the plans the cadets and the officers' wives have been making for the last two months? I THINK NOT! You will sign contract in the chapel. Speaker Polley has already been contacted. I think the day before graduation would be appropriate, a month's stay at a nearby resort has been paid for with a collection taken up by your comrades."
"Thank you, sir!" Samuel managed. "I guess everybody knew, huh?"
The Commandant smiled. "Get out of here!" he answered. "Oh, by the way, cadet, we're going to have a special review at this year's graduation. The cadets and officers have voted unanimously that you should receive The Academy's Medal Of Valor!"
Samuel stared in bewilderment. "The Medal Of Valor?" he stammered. "Really, sir, I don't think it's appropriate. I only did what HAD to be done."
"GO!" the Commandant repeated.
The next weeks were filled with all the excitement of a coming graduation, with the extra plans on the side. Everybody was VERY excited. They knew it was going to be a special time, they just had no idea HOW special it was going to be!

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