I Just Came Back From a War
Sean Cameron was saying goodbye to the Nelson family and on his way out to his Army friends old broken down Mustang. Emma smiled to him not happy about him going off to war at all, she was mostly afraid of how he mentioned that he was being stationed "where all the action is."
He smiled and waved almost repeating Emma's goodbye. He and his Army buddy, Marshall Perkins, threw his bags in the black Mustang. One of the other guys in the truck, Bill Dailey, smiled at Emma through the back seat of Marshall's convertible. The three of them were in the same battalion; they were being shipped out together. It was funny because Bill lived in Emma's neighborhood and often spoke to Spike and Snake. Marshall on the other hand had lived in British Columbia. Sean hopped over the door and landed perfectly on his seat tipping his beret to the Mrs. And Mr. Nelson/Simpson, Emma felt almost left out. He had grown since boot camp and he noticed Emma grew to. She had a new boyfriend and was off to college soon. Sean felt different. It was as if he was on the track to pain, suffering, and maybe a broken life with nobody to hold.
Emma feelings were hard to define; she felt a pang in her heart like lightning striking a tree and magically bursting in flames. She lost her feelings for Sean, right? She had Damian, her boyfriend. The car jet off like they were about to be caught by the police for drug dealing. Emma's eyes burned and she felt Spike's hand on her shoulder gently squeezing it. Manny called five minutes after everyone had gone inside to start a friendly, family conversation. Manny showed thirty minutes later to pick Emma up for a party that Marco was throwing. It was a small party just for his closer friends. And Manny knew that that would get Emma's mind less full of craziness. She had a good time and not long after that had she got back to her life.
Time Skips to the Beginning of College
"Wow, this is a beautiful college." Emma opinionated.
Manny turned to Emma and they squealed in sync playfully. They made their way to the dorm director with Liberty, and soon was disappointed to see Emma wasn't in the same area as Manny. She had been irritated and stalked off finding her dorm room that was empty only for a short period. A girl a little taller than Emma and more of a sports build walked in oblivious to the person on the other bed. She threw her suitcase on the bed and left before Emma got to introduce herself to the girl.
Sean was running into a three story building with his platoon; looking for any sign of terrorist activity. He and one other solider made their way to the top floor. The building was condemned; it seemed it had been for quite some time. The sniper set up his gear near the most inconspicuous window watching the open streets. Sean was ordered back to the Humvee with four others.
"Cameron, Perkins, Johnson inspect the building over there." The squad leader pointed to a small shop next to the condemned house. The man in the shop threw his hands up and slammed his body to the ground. Suspicion arose in Sean and they men all readied there rifles. There was nothing unusual in the shop so they left and drove to another area he was assigned to.
"Emma how do you like college?" Spike Emma's mom asked her on the telephone. Emma responded by telling her how she felt about the room mix up and how everything else was.
"How are you, mom?"
"Well I... uh."
"Spike." Emma groaned. "What?"
"I got a letter from Sean."
"Okay, I'll bite. What does it say?"
"Dear Spike and Snake,
How are you two? I am in Iraq right now. I'm pretty well if you're asking. I had no one to write and as I watched all these guys writing to family and girlfriends I realized I didn't have any of that. I have something better. Both of you. I took for granted your kindness. How is Emma? I know she doesn't want me to write her but I can't help wondering how college is. I can't help but wonder what it feels to be a smart person who has a great future. We've already lost a few good men and women. I stay quiet most of the time, afraid that the next person I talk to will die. Soon I am being sent to road brigade. I have been close to being shot but I'm fine. Except for the fact I'm dirty, tired, and cold. The real fighting will happen soon I can tell; things won't be so civilized.
Sincerely, Sean"
"Do you think I should write him, Spike?"
"I think he needs your support."
Sean sat near the door on the far right of the Humvee with his rifle tight in his grip. They were almost 80 miles away from Baghdad, on the way to the road brigade. Once they arrived they hooked up barbwire crossing the road to keep anyone without military authorization. It was near midnight when a car drove toward all the Humvee's; at first Fredrick's fired warning shots. The car kept on coming but it sped up now, then Harrison shot the smoke bomb and still the car came faster.
"FIRE!" the commander yelled.
The driver was shot as the car was feet away from the closest Humvee's; Sean was one of the guys outside of the vehicle when the Arab's car blew up.
Emma walked outside with Manny huddled in dark warm sweats. They were excited that the holidays were only months away and they'd get to go home. It felt as though college had flown by in just a short time. Although there were days that seemed to last long; that a depression had grown like algae to the bottom of a river. Some of that depression was caused by the truck loads of work they received from each class. The other annoyance was Jay; he had come to visit Manny several times. She still refused to see him after him resorting to his old time acts of thievery. As crazy as it was they had finally gotten him to stop making 'friendly' visits. Emma and Manny threatened to sick the security guard on him.
Sean healed in the very basic clinic that was made out of a small tent. It was only days later he and few others were sent back to do their duty. He made it back to the small squad of him, Perkins, Harrison, Fredrick's, Dailey, and Craig's. They were assigned a special mission to find and kill some of the terrorists they had found in a secret hideout. It was a long drive to an area that Sean couldn't pronounce the name of and it was time for the dangerous raid. "Move In." Squad leader Craig's whispered. Sean kicked down the door and watched as the others entered swiftly. He was the last one in; he threw the door when he heard heavy sounds of bullets ringing off the walls. Arab men came from a room with AK 47's firing at the soldiers. Sean immediately saw Bailey fall with a bullet wound in his head; Sean fired and hit three Arab men killing them instantly. A group of Arab kids ran down the stairs also shooting AK 47's.
Sean and the rest returned the kids fire; and soon all Arabians were dead on the ground. The building was cleared and their call for help was answered. Dailey and Harrison were dead. Sean was wounded in the leg by the enemy fire; he didn't know that he'd been hit until the adrenaline stopped pumping so hard through his body. He made it to a doctor in enough time for him to be fine and able to walk.
"It's a small injury if you take care of it you'll have no problems. You will need a cane for a couple weeks. The bullet did penetrate to the bone so your leg bone is cracked almost in half. Be careful"
"Thanks Doc." Sean replied.
"Cameron." Lt. Wesley spoke loud in the tent.
"Sir yes Sir." Sean jumped to attention feeling a tweak of pain in his leg.
"You and your pal Perkins are going home. Perkins said he's going to inform Dailey's wife and mother about his death. Will you help him do it?"
"Yes Sir."
