John made his way through the airport along with his fellow solders. He was so glad to be home for good after almost two years at war. As he made his way to the loading area he spotted a familiar car and walked over to it. The door opened and a man stepped out. With his bags in his hands John walked over to him.
"How's it going solder?" The man said.
John dropped his bags. "Just good to be home and for good." He walked up to Randy and hugged him. "I missed you so much."
Randy hugged him back. "I missed you too." He pulled back "You got bigger Johnny."
John chuckled "Man it's good to be home."
"Well come on lets go home." Randy picked up John's bags and put them in the trunk. They got in the car and drove off.
As Randy neared their house john saw cars and people in the driveway. "Wow everyone is here."
Randy smiled and took John's hand. "Everyone wanted to welcome you home." He pulled the car into the driveway and looked over at John. "Are you ready for this?"
John sighed "Never been more ready in my life."
Together they got out of the car and greeted the crowd of people.
Later that night
John was in the bathroom washing his hands when the water turned red. He looked at his hands and they were covered in blood. Looking at his face he saw that it was covered in blood as well. He stepped back and knocked over a glass cup that was on the counter..
Randy heard and ran into the bathroom. "John what is it?"
John looked over at Randy then down at his hands to find that the blood was gone. "There was blood everywhere."
Randy looked around the room then back at John. "Come on." He took John's hand and led him out of the bathroom. John sat on the bed as Randy got up the glass. When he got back to John he saw his hands shaking. He sat next to him and took his hand. "Hey John you're okay."
John looked over at Randy and wrapped his arms around him. "I keep seeing things."
"Shhh" Randy said. "You're home now and with me. I got you Johnny and I'm never going to let you go."
"Come on Brady don't do this to me." John said holding his best friend in his arms. "I'm going to get you out of here."
Brady smiled "When you go home tell my wife I love her."
Over the shooting and screaming John could barely hear him. "You can tell her that when you see her."
"I love you man and let my little girl know I love her too." Brady said.
"Don't say that because I'm not going to let you die. Do you hear me?" Brady didn't respond. "Brady?" No answer. "Brady!"
John jumped up panting and sweating. He wiped his face and looked down to see Randy looking up at him. "Sorry I woke you up."
Randy sat up "Who's Brady?"
"What?" John said.
"You were calling out his name." Randy said "Was he with you in the army?"
John nodded "He was my best friend."
Randy looked down "What happened to him?"
John leant back against the headboard. "It was so loud, bodies and blood was everywhere. I was walking and he was behind me. Out of nowhere this guy jumped out and started shooting at us. My gun jammed and I guess he saw because he pushed me down. The last thing he said to me was he loved me and he wanted his daughter to know that he loved her too"
Randy sighed "John?"
"I was suppose to die that day not him." John said "It's all my fault."
"No it wasn't" Randy took John's hand.
"His daughter is three months old and she's never going to know her father." John looked down "I took him away from her."
"John you can't blame yourself for this." Randy said.
John got out of the bed. "You don't understand. Brady didn't deserve this."
"And you did!" Randy yelled.
John sighed "I'm going to get something to eat."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Randy said sitting up.
John shook his head. "No you have work tomorrow." He walked out of the room.
Randy laid back down against the headboard. What a great first day back this was, he thought."
The next morning
Randy woke up and reached out for John and sat up when he didn't feel him. "John?" He got up and went to the living room. John was sitting on the couch watching TV. "Hey?" He said walking up behind him.
John drunk a swig of his beer. "Everytime I close my eyes I see him die."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Randy asked placing a hand on his shoulder.
John got up and walked behind the couch. "I'm fine okay I don't need nor want to talk about it. Besides you have to go to work." He leant over and kissed Randy. "I promise you that I'm fine."
"Okay but call me if you need anything." Randy said.
"We'll do" John said sitting back down on the couch. "I have to see Brady's wife anyway."
Randy wrapped his arms around John's neck. "I love you."
John smiled "I love you too." He kissed Randy on the cheek. "Always"
John was getting dressed when he heard gunshots. He fell to the ground and looked around with panicked eyes. After a minute the room fell silent with the exception of John's breathing. He slowly got up and looked around. There was no sign of war life anywhere so he shook it off. Grabbing the keys to the other car he left.
John parked his car and made his way up to the yellow house. He knocked on the door and stepped back.
Brady's wife Angie opened the door. "Hey John I was wondering when you were going to come."
John smiled "Hey Angie." He walked into the house. "How's little Brittany doing?"
Angie smiled and shut the door. "She's good; she's actually out with my mom." She sighed "I have something for you." She walked off.
John followed her into the living room and sat on the couch. "So how are you doing?"
Angie came in with a box and sat it on the table. "I'm hanging in there but I miss him already."
John looked down "Yeah me too whenever I was upset he always knew how to make me feel better."
Angie smiled "Me too." She took the lid off the box. "They sent me a box of his stuff and while I was going through it I found this letter addressed to you." She took it out and gave it to John.
John took the letter from her. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." Angie sighed "There is more stuff in here I thought you might want. I knew that he would be happy if he knew you had them."
John glimpsed into the box and saw pictures of him and Brady. He smiled and started to cry. "You know no matter how bad it got he was always there, always smiling."
Angie smiled and scooted closer to John. She pulled him into a hug. "It's okay John." She said. "I know that wherever Brady is he's watching over us. Just like he always does."
When John got home that day he set the box on the table and got two beers from the fridge. Going back over to the couch he sat down. He started at the letter in his hands and couldn't bring himself to open it. He put the letter back in the box and put it in the closet. He went back to the couch and turned on the TV. He sighed and raised his beer in the air. "This is for you Brady, I miss you man." He drank down half the bottle. "I just don't know what do here Brady and I wish you were here."
