Katie sat in her room near her window that night with a notebook on her lap and pen in her hand. She looked at the piece of paper in front of her and began writing.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Denny;
My name is Katie. I worked with your son during our training and over in the war. I'msorry for what has happened to him. He had to be one of the nicest guys in our station. When we were all sad over something that has happened during the day, he would try his best to cheer us all up. If we were up during the night crying over the incident, he would wake up and wait until we fell asleep before he went back to sleep. He cared more about anyone than himself.
Katie began to cry as she wrote down what she felt the day the bomb went off.
We were walking through one town during the day checking onthe citizens. We would do that everyday to make sure they were safe. We heard an explosion and your son grabbed this girl Heather to protect her because she was closer to the bomb. I don't kow what happened after the ground exploded underneath us. I blacked out. But, I woke up to find out that every one but me and Heather died. Your son saved Heather's life. On the plane back here just yesterday, from the hospital Heather and I were treated at for our injuries, Heather was bawling her eyes out thinking of what you son has done for her. She thanks you for bringing him into this world. He was and will always be her hero.
Katie wiped her eyes as that day came back to her. Her tears fell onto the paper. She tried her best to wipe them away without ruining the writing.
As he told me one night when we were watching the tent we slept in with the others, 'My parents never cared for me. I thought I was made a mistake. I want to show them how much they mean to me'. Your son died for you and your family. Why? He wanted you all to be safe and live your lives knowing that you're alive and you have a son watching over you. Please. Respect his decision as to why he joined the army. Once again, I am sorry for your loss.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Katie, Flight 863
Katie put her pen down and began to sob her eyes out. She heard her door open and peered up to see her mother. Her mom ran up to her and threw her arms around her.
"It hurts so much," she sobbed.
"I know, sweetheart. I know," her mother told her, "But, you couldn't control what happened. Be glad that you're alive and experienced something that changed you for the good."
"You think I've changed for the good?"
"Yes," her mother said, "You handled Tanner and Sarah well, better than what we were expecting here at home. You met Bradin who has to be the nicest guy you've known. And, the way you acted the past two days towards everyone has been amazing to watch. Yes, you may not like people you have talked to. However, you delt with the fact that you knew them. You would never have done that.
"We were all shocked at your news last year. When you came home yesterday, I saw some things in you I never though I would see. You smiled even though you were hurt. You made several amazing friends over there, one returning with you. You had courage. You hid your pain. You showed love to everyone that greeted you there. And, even though you were dirty and wearing the same clothing you've worn for a year that was only washed probably twice, your beauty showed."
Katie hugged her mother tightly as more tears ran down her face.
