13th of December
card
Nobody home, there are cards on the floor. Christmas cards from "friends". Who had received cards?
"Merry Christmas, Tala. I hope you have plenty of snow and ice there. -Tyson."
"Happy Christmas, Blitzkrieg Boys. -All Starz."
"Merry Christmas. -Max."
"Christmas Greetings from Spain. –The Battalion."
They all said the same thing. They were to the Blitzkrieg Boys. From who? From them who called them friends. Only "friends" send Christmas cards. They didn't receive any from the Russian team.
Key turn in the lock, gush of wind makes the cards fly away from the door before the door is closed. Cold eyes scan the floor, counting the cards. He leaves them be, walking past and over. He doesn't count them as friends. As he reaches the living room doorway, he stops, looking back. He turns and starts to pick up them. They are scattered.
He reads every one of them. Only The Battalion meant something. They were comrades. The Bega sent a letter, a card and a written apology from Garland. Tala just stared the cards. He was currently trying to understand, why he was feeling like he was feeling. Warm. Was this what the cards meant.
Bryan, Spencer and Ian come home. They see Tala sitting on the sofa, holding a stack of cards, empty look on his face. Ian takes the cards and he settles himself to Tala's lap, Spencer sitting down next to their captain, Bryan on the other side.
They stay like this for a long time, looking out of the window.
"I never really understood the meaning of friends. Now I think I do."
They'd always be there if he fell. If he doubted. If he felt alone.