(WXIA) -- She is holding the gift of a teddy bear, wearing her Army field uniform, straining to see through the thick crowd emerging from the escalator at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. She takes a deep breath. She is clearly nervous.
She smiles, very aware of the camera capturing this moment.
"Anticipation is something else," she says, and laughs.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Veronica Davis knows a thing about anticipation, and intensity. After three tours in the war, she is home. The anticipation she's feeling now is different. This anticipation is about living up to someone's idea of you.
"She's the youngest one that wrote me. The youngest."
Deployed to Afghanistan, on her third tour, Officer Davis received a letter from then seven-year-old Sofie Deck from Mahomet, Illinois.
"My teacher said we were going to write to pen pals. Well, actually she said soldiers since we didn't know what pen pal was." Sofie gives a big smile, her top four teeth missing.
Davis reads part of one of Sofie's letters. "Dear Veronica, I hope you have a good christmas. I hope you have a good Thanksgiving, do you like turkey?" Davis looks up and laughs.
Sofie says, "We started writing to them and it happened."
What happened was that Veronica wrote Sofie back, and what began as a formal correspondence, grew into a friendship, with the two sharing stories of their families, their dogs, their friends, even their fears. In one of her letters to Veronica, Sofie writes,
I will go to a new school next year, Lincoln Trail. I am a little nervous but it will be fun. I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you for serving our country. Love Sofie.
"She's my best friend." Sofie is beaming.
Veronica passed the time in Afghanistan, encountering children of war Sofie's age, losing fellow soldiers. The letters from the freckle faced gap toothed little girl in Illinois were a lone bright spot.
Veronica says, "Sofie's letters are about everything that's good. Life is good. Do you like turkey?"
The tour and the letters drew to an end. Back home in Atlanta, Veronica worked to readjust to civilian life, a difficult solitary journey. And then came the call from Illinois -- from Sofie's mom -- asking if her daughter could come to Atlanta.
Veronica holds up the victory sign, waiting at the top of the escalators for Sofie. It is their sign. "I say 'V' for victory she says 'V' for Veronica."
Sofie is in her uniform, too -- sparkly shoes, tutu and army shirt.
Veronica throws her hands in the air and yells when she sees Sofie and the two run to each other and embrace. After a plethora of photo taking the two head upstairs to the USO where Sofie receives a special pin in recognition of supporting the troops.
And then Sofie presents Veronica with an 'All About Me' book. The book is an Army tradition, an opportunity for a soldier to toot their own horn. Davis sent one to Sofie and she had it completed for their meeting. Davis reads one of the last pages aloud. "My hero? Mom and Dad and Jesus and Veronica. That is very high honor for me. Very high honor."
Sometimes we can live up to someone's idea of us. And at 8 years old, Sofie has the words of her best friend committed to memory -- and heart. Without looking at the letters, Sofie stares into the camera and says,
Take care little one. Continue to do great things. Make the world your canvas and paint joy everywhere. Love, Veronica.
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