Priorities…
By Anna
EMAIL: Anna
The Military; its servicemen…the cases…the victims…justice…HIS team…
From what he’d been told, those duties, things were what his life had been
wrapped around for as long as most everyone could remember. But it wasn’t what
he remembered; it wasn’t what he wanted. He longed for Shannon. The vibrant red
hair and easy smile, her gentle patience, sharp tongue when he needed to be put
in his place, the love that shown in every glance and through every word. She
had been the focus of his life since he’d set eyes on her that day at the train
depot back home when he’d thought he’d be leaving for good. From that moment,
he’d known he had wanted only two things in his adult life: to be a Marine and
to have that woman in his life.
And Kelly – how he
needed to hear the playful laughter, the glee of his daughter at play or up to
mischief – as her mother was more likely to say. He missed the warm snuggles
with his daughter while watching early morning cartoons and the simply joy they
had found in being together after dinner, indulging in time for a movie or to
play a game. And those precious times he’d had Kelly with him as he worked in
the basement, crafting something out of wood or giving her a simple lesson as
she sat on his lap and leaned against his chest. He could feel the warmth of
her small body as she clung to him that day he had left.
No one understood. The doctors and nurses had all looked at him with sympathy
and concern. Amnesia they called it. That strange doctor – Ducky – he wished he
could remember more. Maybe if he remembered more about that man and the others
who had stared at him with both open and closed-off hurt, then just maybe his
own pain and loss would ease. He didn’t see it happening though. This pain was
too intense, too deep. It wasn’t even physical. And the ache could only be eased
by the touch, the presence of his wife and daughter. Sitting in the dusky living
room, he lifted the bottle to his lips, no longer feeling the burn as the
bourbon slid down his throat.
Fifteen years ago. That’s how much time they said had passed. It felt like
yesterday. It would always feel like yesterday. He knew some of them thought
that he would get over it. He never wanted to forget the pain. He was positive
that forgetting the pain meant that he’d forget his wife and daughter and he
didn’t want to do that. Shannon had been his life. He’d loved her with
everything that he was – body and soul. And Kelly – his sweet, precious little
girl. Didn’t even get a chance to live, to see the joy in everything.
He choked back another sob. Marines didn’t cry! And above all else he was a
marine. But for now he only wanted to grieve. Standing up, he grabbed the bag
that was sitting near the couch. For now, he would leave the house where the
memories were oppressively painful. He’d take Mike Franks up on his offer and
find a new life. He didn’t care about what he’d been before the explosion. Now
he only wanted to be Shannon’s husband and Kelly’s father. His priorities had
changed.END