The ex-Navy SEAL stood in front of the cemetery gates, his shoulders slumped with the weight of guilt. All his close colleagues attending the funeral of the Cop whose sacrifice is the reason the ex-Navy SEAL and his wife are still alive and breathing. The sacrifice of that one man is the reason two nuclear weapons were recovered and the arms dealer who wanted to make money by selling death is rotting in Gitmo. His sacrifice is the reason the enemies of America are years away from becoming nuclear powers..
The ex-Navy SEAL stood in front of the cemetery gates, his shoulders slumped with the weight of guilt. He had never been so scared in his life. He had never been so nervous, not even when he was buried alive, not even when staring down some of the world's most notorious terrorists. He was scared to face the casket of the Cop who died protecting the SEAL's family. He was afraid he didn't deserve to stand next to the people who genuinely cared about the dead Cop.
The ex-Navy SEAL stood in front of the cemetery gates, his shoulders slumped with the weight of guilt. His life partner and work partner stood either side of him, trying to goad him to pay the last respects to the dead Cop. The ex-Navy SEAL didn't know how to make it right and earn the worthiness to be able to pay the last respects to the Cop whose character he questioned. The very Cop who knew he was walking into a death trap and still came to the rescue of the Navy SEAL. The very Cop who had endured great amount of physical torture but never gave up any information. Shaking their heads, unable to goad their partner to move past the gates, they walked in and joined the people paying the last respects.
The ex-Navy SEAL stood in front of the cemetery gates, his shoulders slumped with the weight of guilt. His kids stood next to him, looking scared and jittery on their first visit to the cemetery. His wife wanted to leave them home but was silenced when the SEAL reminded that if it wasn't for the sacrifice of the Cop, the kids would probably be attending the funeral of the ex-Navy SEAL and his wife. She realized that they have to pay their respect to the man responsible for keeping the family united.
"Daddy, why are we here?" the ex-Navy SEAL's son questioned.
"Uncle Marty died, son. We are here to bury him and pay him our last respects." The ex-Navy SEAL replied.
"Why did he die?" the ex-Navy SEAL's daughter asked this time, her voice quivering against the emotion.
The ex-Navy SEAL knelt in front of his kids and spoke gently, "Uncle Marty died protecting your mother and me, baby. We should never forget him or what he did for our family." He wiped the tears off her cheeks and hugged her tightly.
The Navy SEAL looked at the dog that walked out of the cemetery. The mangy mutt looked at him lazily with her soulful eyes as if he was questioning why the ex-Navy SEAL isn't inside the Cemetery with the others. He knew at that moment that he had to pay his last respects. He owed the Cop a lot more than that but that was the only thing he could do. He sighed before holding his kids' hands and following the dog's lead.
All his friends looked at him and could feel the weight of the guilt on his shoulders. They hoped one day the ex-Navy SEAL would forgive himself for they knew the Cop had already forgiven the ex-Navy SEAL when he resuscitated the man.