Alex
I sit up and look
over at Jerry and Roxy. Roxy made Cavern take a break from watching him and she
now had Jerry’s head on her thighs. I don’t know what it is, but I have a
feeling that Roxy could have something to hide. The rain pelted the roof,
creating a peaceful noise. I hear the sirens again, and I start to go back.
When I was in the Marines, I felt like I was on top of the world. I was doing
things I never thought I could do. My buddy and I from way back enlisted
together, Tom Sanchez. We grew up two houses down from each other, always
making trouble his mom used to say. He played varsity soccer and I played
football. After graduating, we lost touch; Tom went to a technical college in
New York, and I went to MIT. When I signed up for the Marines and went down to
South Carolina for training, Tom was there. We were so happy to be together
again. Fortunately for us, we ended up in the same unit. I made friends with
the other guys in the unit, but Tom and I always had this bond that couldn't be
separated. Almost right after graduating our training, our unit was shipped out
to Afghanistan. It was hard on us, but
especially hard on Tom. He had a fiancé at home, and they were going to get
married when his service was done. I realized that other guys had girlfriends
and wives at home, and I had no one. My mother was always there, but she had
her hands full with my brothers. My littlest brother got the most attention,
then the middle brother. I was shoved aside whenever they had problems. Don’t
get me wrong, I loved my brothers, but I always felt like they got the
attention and support over me. Anyways, we were in Afghanistan for 3 weeks
before our unit got actual fighting experience. It wasn't much, just clearing
out this old burnt out factory and looking for survivors from the attack later
that morning by the enemy. We found a family in the ruins: a mother and three
boys, like my family. The oldest didn't look any older than twelve and smallest
was about a year and a half old. One of members of my unit talked to them and
got then back to our base. We fed them and cleaned them up. After some food and
water, the two older boys were running all over camp. The middle one, Armagon,
really took a liking to Tom. Having those boys in our camp really boosted the
units’ spirits. One morning, the family was gone. We looked all over camp for
them but realized that they could be harmed if they stayed in our camp. Tom was
heartbroken. He didn't show it, but I could tell that he was having a hard
time. About a month later, we were really put into the war. The unit was put
out in this little town, to protect the people and maintain our borders. Before
we knew it, we were getting shot at from the rooftops. Everyone ducked out into
alcoves and alleyways, taking the closest civilians with us. Tom ended up on
the other side of the street with an older woman and a young girl. Our unit
leader shouted at me and Tom to get up on the roof and search. Another member
of the unit, Jackson, slid next to me to take care of the little boy next to
me. He made eye contact and nodded. I nodded back and slid out into the street.
The shots were ringing out as Tom and I darted in and out of alcoves and
doorways. We climbed up a fire escape a few blocks down. Once we got over the
edge, bullets were flying. I screamed at Tom to get down, but it was too late.
It felt like hours, but it only took two seconds for my best friend to get shot.
He was shot twice in the leg and once in the arm. I ran over to him, scared for
his life. I kept firing like a crazed lunatic at the two enemy gunmen who shot
my best friend. I took them out, only having a bullet graze my left arm. I took
in a pained breath as I crouched down to look at Tom. He was bleeding, bad.
Shock and pain was spread on his face.
“It’s ok. I’m gonna get you out
of here. You’re gonna be ok,” I say trying to get a better look at his wounds.
I heard another noise and stood up. Below us, on the ground, was my unit
leader. I yelled down to him, telling him that Tom was hurt. He ran off,
yelling back that he’d be back soon with the medics. I looked around for anyone
else then crouched down over my best friend. I took out a couple bandages from
my pocket and started to wrap up his wounds. His eyes start to shut and I
remembered from training that when someone was hurt to keep them talking so
they don’t become unconscious.
“Hey Tom? Can you
tell me how you met Vanessa?” I asked. Vanessa is his fiancée. He looked up at
me and smiled.
“You – already
know -- the story,” he says taking short breaths.
“I love hearing it
man,” I smile back at him reaching into my pocket for more bandages.
“Ok, if you –
really –want to. I met her – at a party my – mom was having – for the new
people – on the block. She was – wearing – a bright red – dress. I had -- never
– seen her—before,” he trailed off. I looked up just as he started to close his
eyes. I grabbed his shoulder.
“Hey buddy? What
else happened? Did you see her again?” I asked, frantic. I looked around again
for my unit leader, but I didn't see him.
“I – asked her
out. She said no – of course. You know – me, that didn't – stop me,” he said
laughing, but it sounded so painful.
“Can you tell –
her something – for me?” Tom asked reaching up to grab my jacket.
“You can tell her
yourself when you go home,” I say trying so hard to hide my tears, but failing.
“Tell her – that I
– love her,” he said. That was the last thing he ever said. His arm fell and
his eyes closed. I shook his shoulder, trying to wake him up, trying to get him
back. I yelled at the top of my lungs and cried so hard. My best friend was
dead, and it was all my fault. Just then, my unit leader came back with the
medics. He must have heard me scream and flew up the fire escape. When he saw
Tom, he just stopped and stared. Snapping out of it, he called up the medics to
take Tom away. The next couple months
were hard. I didn't talk to the other guys in the unit for at least two weeks.
A bang brought me back into reality. I jumped a little and wiped my eyes; I didn't want Cavern and Roxy to see me like this. Cavern got up and looked at
the double doors; the paramedics were there.
“Is this the boy?”
they ask pointing at Jerry. I get up and move towards him, protecting him. I
nod.
“We need to check
him out, make sure he’s okay,” the paramedic says walking closer. I move closer
to him, trying to keep him away, but Cavern grabs my arm. We make eye contact
and I know that it’s for the best. I move over to let them get to Jerry. They
checked his pulse and some other vitals then turned back to us.
“He seems to be
fine, but we have to bring him in to see if he has a concussion,” they say
standing up again.
“Take me with
you,” I say not even thinking about it. They look at each other and sigh.
“Fine, but you
have to stay in the back with him,” they say pointing at Jerry.
“His name -- is
Jerry. Not “the boy”, not “him”, Jerry,” I say gritting my teeth. They seemed
shocked at my reaction but another bang distracted everyone. The door opened
again, and another paramedic runs in.
“The bridge is
flooded and the main highway is closed,” he says breathing hard.
Jerry
I try to open my
eyes and have some trouble.
` “He’s
awake,” someone yells above me. I slowly open my eyes to see that red-head’s
face.
“Are
you ok?” she says brushing hair out of my eyes. I nod and try to sit up. My
head starts swimming and I lay back down. Alex comes into view and smiles.
“Hey
buddy,” he says putting his hand on my shoulder. I start to sit up again,
slower this time. The pain is less so I make it all the way up. I turn around
to face the red-head.
“Thanks,”
I whisper. I know if I talk louder my head will hurt even more. She nods, and
then I realize the paramedics are here. I jump up and almost fall back down.
Alex catches me and sets me upright. I nod at him and swallow.
“Is…..Jessica?”
I ask the paramedic closest to me. He shakes his head and I can feel the hot
tears start to well up in my eyes. Cavern comes up from behind me and touches
my shoulder. I knew she was trying to help but I just started crying harder. I didn't know Jessica that long, but I had a real connection with her. Alex puts
his arm around me.
“It’ll
be okay dude,” he says hugging my shoulders. I look up through my teary eyes at
Roxy. She looked miserable, maybe even worse than me. I wiped my eyes and stood
up straight; no one needs to see me like this.
“They
wanna check to see if you have a concussion. Is that alright?” Alex asks me. I
nod because I really don’t feel well. I walk out of the dining hall with Alex
and the paramedics to the ambulance. The wind was raging and it was starting to
pour again. As we got in the ambulance and started to drive off, I looked back
towards the dining hall. Roxy and Cavern were in the doorway, looking very
worried. I hope they’re going to be alright. I lay back onto the stretcher the
paramedics put me on and close my eyes.
