Annika looked down at her sister and brother then smiled. She hugged her brother Jacob and he shook his head. He clung to his older sister who smiled and looked at her mom then to her dad. She smiled and stepped away from her brother. She kissed him on the head and looked at her sisters.
"Take care of them!" She exclaimed and her sister Rachel flung herself at Annika.
"Sister don't go! Please!" Her sister begged and began to cry. She patted her sister on the head and smiled.
"Don't worry I will be home." She said and had Becca pull her baby sister off. She grabbed her bag and turned around to leave. She took a deep breathe and since 9/11 she decided this is what she had to do. She just signed up to join the Military and she walked out of her house. She saw her one friend Leah and within seconds Leah flung herself at Annika.
Annika sighed and pulled Leah away from her. She placed her head against hers and then smiled. She kissed her forehead and shoved her to Sam who grabbed her. She threw her back in the back of the rusty red truck and a family friend Sue was taking her to the airport. She got in and She stuck her hand out then waved.
"Annika don't go! Pleases stay here!" Leah screamed and tried to get away from Sam. "ANNIKA NO!" Leah screamed and fell to the ground as Sam held her.
"Sister no! Don't go!" Jacob screamed as he left the house and Becca grabbed him. "Sister no! Sister!" Jacob said crying and Sue began to drive off.
When they got down the road she finally broke down and sobbed. She couldn't stop it but she wanted to do this and she wanted to protect her family. She was only 19 but that didn't matter she would protect her country. No one on the Rez wanted her to go but yet she did and she was going into training camp before they shipped her out. She arrived at the airport and got out. She said bye to sue and got ready to leave.
Annika spent months in a training camp and wrote her family regularly. She updated them on what was going on until she found out she would be shipped off. She told her family and before a return letter could come she was shipped off. She sat on the plan for hours and sighed. She was scared but he'll who wasn't scared? She took a shakey breathe and they landed. Before she knew it they where at the base getting their post.
Years passed and Annika learned off her mothers passing and her dad condition. She shook her head and crumpled up the letter and tossed it in the trash can. She grabbed her gear and got ready for patrol. She hasn't spoken to her family in years and Jacob must be 15 by now. Hell she couldn't but she would write when she could.
Annika was out patrol when her caravan was ambushed and she watched as her fellow comrades where killed right before her eyes. She barely managed to make it out alive and hell if it wasn't for a nice Iraqan boy she would of died. He pulled her away from the fire on the streets and days later her commander found her. He also thanked the boy and she was looked over. She had a broken wrist, three broken ribs and lots more. She was taken care of a nurse their and in a couple months she could go home. They where finally sending her head but the nightmares of loosing her comrades haunt her. She was damaged beyond repair.