Safety

The one in the front of the group carefully made his way towards me and crouched down. I looked at him and saw he was wearing a clean, white robe and he had a kind face, unlike the others. He had a child and a few others behind him. The man pointed to my uniform and questioned, "Americayee?"

I just nodded my head, still on the ground. "Yes, I am American."

The man then gently grabs my arms and helps me to my feet, confusing me. Another man comes to my other side and they throw my arms around their shoulders, and wrapping their arms around my waist. They started taking me down the mountain, being careful and gentle.

"Why are you helping me?" I ask, weakly. "You are helping me, right?" The man with white nods his head, looking straight. "Why are you helping me?"

"Americayee."

"I am American, yes, we've established that. Do you speak English?"

The man shakes his head but says, "Little."

"But you can understand it well?" He nods his head once more, looking confident.

I sigh in relief, thanking God he understands me and he's helping me. I knew I shouldn't trust him but he was my only hope to surviving and if he killed me, I wouldn't be bothered. We kept walking for a long time, I lost track of how long but we entered a small village and I realized it was the same village we were looking at, earlier today when it was the five of us.

"What's your name?" I ask, becoming more tired each second.

"Gulab." The man pointed to the young boy by him and said, "Turan. You?"

"Crystal." I whisper, my head leaning on my shoulder.

As we made our way through the village, I got many strange looks but I paid no attention to them whatsoever. We kept walking and they led me into this small house, setting me on a bed. I looked at Gulab and gestured for food and water. He understood immediately and said something to the other men, shooing them away.

Gulab crouched down and faced me. Tears welled up in my eyes as it hit me; I'm safe now. I'm finally safe for now. But I let the tears fall because I knew that none of the guys were feeling safe and they never would. You never know what feeling safe is until you're about to die but you're being saved by someone.

I leaned my head against the wall and let the tears fall freely. Gulab ordered something to Turan and after the child ran out the door, he turned back to me and wiped the tears away. I was confused but I wondered if that kid was his son and he didn't like anyone being in pain.

The same men from earlier came back but they brought a water bottle and a plate of food. I knew that if I got up, I would collapse again so I just waited until they handed it to me. I started eating it as fast as I could, desperate for the taste of food and the strength I would get back. I opened the water bottle and drank about half of it in one swig. I didn't realize Turan came back until I felt something cold against my neck.

I jumped and looked to find Gulab still in front of me and Turan behind him, with a bowl of water in his hand and a wet cloth in the other. I realized he was trying to get the blood off me. I hesitantly let him as I continued eating the food like a hungry animal. A small hand stopped me from eating and I saw the young boy there, smiling at me.

He said something in his language and made a slow gesture with his hand. He was trying to tell me to slow down. I smile gratefully at him and do what he says. A sudden burning sensation hit me like a brick in the face as I hissed in pain and gripped my neck, knowing he had touched the part where the bullet grazed me. Gulab looked sorry that he hurt me but I try to smile and shake my head, telling him I was fine.

Before I knew it, I had all the blood off me and they were handing me a fresh pair of pajamas. I took hold of them and thankfully, some girls in the village helped me in the clothes, guiding my arms and legs in the clothing because of my wounds. I had a patch or a cloth over almost every wound or scrape I had.

I was led back to the room I was in and I laid down in my bed, some women coming in at times and giving me food or water or giving me another blanket or even just sitting there next to me, not letting me be all alone. I was grateful for these people, if it wasn't for them, I'd be dead for sure. It was night by the time I had everything I needed but I could barely move.

Gulab came in and put a candle on the nightstand next to me bed. Just as he was about to leave, I called out to him. I gestured towards my uniform and he picked it up and gave it to me. I looked in all my pockets and thanked God that I still had it.

I handed him a picture I always carried with me. It was the five of us on a normal day, us standing on the beach during a sunset, all of us smiling. I gestured to Axe and Marcus and slowly said, "Go back to the mountain, please. If you see these two, bring them here. They're with me. Tell them that you know me and I'm here. Understand?"

He nodded his head and I continued. "If they point a gun at you, hold your hands up and slowly take out this picture and show it to them. Please. When you come back, I need that picture back."

He nodded again and smiled at me. I smile back and lie down, resting my head on the pillow, and covering myself with the blankets. My thoughts kept wandering towards Mike and Danny. Mike's words never left my head, they were so loud and clear, it was like he was next to me, saying them over and over again. We're gonna be watching out for you, whether you know it or not. You're not gonna die…not here.

Maybe he was right. I hoped that Axe and Marcus made it out and if they didn't, then I knew they were also watching and taking care of me. Whether I knew it or not. I prayed that night, probably the first time in years. I prayed to God and hoped at least one of them was ok. I fell asleep, thinking about my team and wishing that this was all a nightmare and when I wake up, we would still be at base.

I woke up late the next day. It was bright and sunny, as if nothing was wrong in the world. Such as false belief. Everything was wrong in the world. I grunt as I try to sit up, my shoulder aching as I used its strength to push myself up. My ribs were sore, as well as every other part in my body. I look at my nightstand and see there's a plate of food and another water bottle.

I smile as I calmly eat my food and drink my water. Just as I was finishing up, two men came in the room and forced me to my feet but carefully. They dragged me outside and into another building, being quick but trying not to hurt me. I grunted in pain every few seconds but I pulled through.

As we came close to one house, I heard a familiar voice yelling, "Where is she?! Where's the girl?! Tell me where she is! You said she was here!"

At that moment, I walk in the house and see a face I thought I lost. All the breath left my body as we stare at each other, him sitting on the bed and me still standing in the doorway. I swallow a lump in my throat as I slowly and carefully make my way towards him. He watched my every move as I walked forward. I stopped in front of him and stood there before he took my hand and led me to sit next to him.

He stares in my eyes as he puts a hand on the side of my face, stroking my cheek with his thumb. He pauses for a moment before quickly yanking me close to him, his arms tightly wrapped around my shoulders. I throw my arms around his waist and my hands form into little balls of fists, gripping tightly to his uniform. I rest my head on his shoulder and I realize his whole body is shaking as he holds me.

I start to silently sob in his shoulder and he starts to rock me back and forth, stroking my hair. "It's ok. It's ok, I'm here, now. We're both gonna be ok. I'm right here, Chris."

"I thought I lost you, Marcus. I thought you were gone, too."

As we stayed in each other's arms, we started to hear many yelling and barking coming from outside. Turan looked out the window as we stared his way. I gently pull away from Marcus and look out the window and see Taliban's wandering around the town with guns out. Before I could register anything, Tali's came in the house we were in and dragged us out. Marcus and I were struggling but both weak from our latest experience.

We got outside and one of the leaders punch Marcus in the face, causing him to fall to the ground. I struggle even more, yelling and cussing at them. I break free and punch the leader but he quickly turns my way and fires his gun. Marcus looks up quickly, yelling, "No, Chris!"

I look down and saw a hole in my shirt but it was a baggy shirt and it went through, not hitting me. I stay standing tall, showing I was strong and not giving up on my country or my boys. They pick Marcus back up and drag us to some log that had one large spot of blood. It hit me, then, what that was for. I start struggling more, as well as Marcus.

They force him to his knees over the bloody spot on the log. I realize that the leader was Taraq. He bends down and starts slapping him in the face. Marcus looks at him and yells, "Fuck you!"

"Fuck you, Americayee! Cry, motherfucker!"

He slapped and punched my best friend more and more, everyone yelling and screaming. Marcus spits blood out at Taraq, shocking him. "Fucking do it! Fucking do it, you fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

Taraq grips Marcus' hair and yanks on it, making him look at the bastard. "I'm gonna cut your heads off and send it to your fucking American…" he starts rambling in his own language, trailing off.

He stands up and raises his knife, getting ready to kill Marcus. The men hold me back as I try to make it to him, screaming his name. The second he was about to bring the knife down, a few gunshots were heard, close to us. Everyone stopped and looked to see who it was. There was Gulab and many other men behind him; all had guns in their hands and pointing them at the Tali's.

Gulab and Taraq started yelling but Taraq and his men began leaving, so I was able to run over to Marcus and crouch down next to him as he was trying to control his breathing. Once they were away from us, the village people came over to us and helped us to our feet, being firm but gentle with our wounds.

Marcus got up, out of breath and asked, "Why are you doing this for us?"

Gulab began saying, "Fuck Taliban! Fuck Taliban!"

I smiled at him, knowing he felt the same way as us. They brought us back in the house and then left except Turan. He stood there and watched us as Marcus was breathing heavy and loud, panting and sweating as I leaned against the wall, trying to remain calm. Marcus looked at the boy and tried to say nicely, "I need a knife. Knife. To cut." He began pretending to cut his hand, using an invisible knife. "Knife. You know, knife? Cut? Ok? Go get a knife."

Turan stared at him hard and began to slowly say, "Knife."

I smiled at the little child, being so young and innocent. "Yes! Yes, a knife, to cut. Ok? Go. Go get me a knife. Please? Please."

He left and it was just the two of us. I stared at my best friend, scared I might lose him. "What's wrong? Where are you hurt?"

He lazily looked up at me and swallowed. "Everywhere, what do you think?! Right now, it's my leg."

I carefully bend down to the floor and rest on my knees. I look at his leg and saw metal chunks stuck in his leg, bleeding. I flinch at the sight but I turn around when I hear a 'quack'. I see Turan coming back, looking timid while holding a duck. I almost smiled at him, seeing this boy clueless. Marcus sighed and desperately said, "No, I….I said a knife. That's not a knife."

"Knife." Turan said.

"No. It's not a knife. It's a fucking duck! I need a knife. You know, knife? To cut."

"Knife." The boy insisted.

I actually smiled and chuckled at the scene. Marcus quickly turns to me, his eyes filled with anger. "What, you think this is funny?! You try having pieces of metal in your leg, see how you feel! Jesus Christ!"

I look down, ashamed. At that moment, Gulab slowly walks in and looks between us. Before Marcus can say anything else, I take a small step, careful of my leg and wounds and announce, "Gulab."

He looks at me for a moment before asking, "Crystal?"

I smiled, knowing he got it right and we are on understanding terms. "We need a knife. Please, a knife."

"Chaku." He nods in understanding and leaves the room for a moment before coming back with a large knife in his hand. "Chaku?"

"Yes!" I limped over to him and took it from him, walking back to my wounded brother. Marcus tried to take it from my hand but I gave him a warning look. "No, I got it. Focus on your breathing and try to think of something else. It'll be over soon."

I rip open his pants where his wounds were and I take off his coat. I give him the sleeve part and he takes it in his mouth, to bite on and not to yell out. I take the knife and carefully but quickly take the small piece out of his shin. His breathing became loud and uneven, his face becoming redder by the second. I grab one of his hands in my free one and he takes my free hand in both of his, squeezing it tightly.

I take the next one out, the second one taking more time. It flies to the floor once I get it out of his knee. His breathing becomes worse and I worry he might pass out. I run my thumb against one of his hands and quickly whisper, "It's ok. It's gonna be ok, we're almost done. One more, alright? One more and then we're done. Just hang in there."

He took the sleeve out of his mouth and bit down on his dog tags instead. I realize the last one is gonna be harder and more painful. I take the point of the knife and carefully dig it in his skin, right where the metal was. I lift the torn skin and by then, my hand was shaking. I needed my other hand to take the metal out but I knew he wasn't going to let my hand go. I gestured for Gulab to grab it and thankfully, he did.

When I looked up, I saw he had passed out but it was like he was having a seizure with the way he was breathing. After I was done and threw the metal away, me, Gulab, and Turan began to clean him. I was wiping the blood away, Gulab was patching up his wounds, and Turan was putting him in some clothes, similar to mine.

That night, every man and most children walked around the village with guns, looking out towards the mountains for protection. I stayed in the room and watched Marcus as he slept, it bringing me comfort as I watched his chest rise and fall while he breathed. I sat on the floor and let Turan have the other bed during the night but I was surprised when he climbed out of the bed and sat next to me.

He curled up against my side as I threw my arm around him, pulling him close. I've been here for about a day or two now and I've never seen the boy with another woman, such as a mother or sister. I wondered if his father was all he had. I was broken out of my thoughts as he spoke, pointing to me. "Name? Chrisle?"

I smiled at him, giving him a squeeze. "No, it's Crystal. You can call me Chris. Can you call me that? Chris."

He looks up at me with big, brown, childlike eyes. "Chris?"

"Yea, there you go."

He smiled back at me, wrapping his arms around my waist as mine were still around his shoulders. "Chris." He closed his eyes and rests his head against my chest. I sigh, closing my eyes and leaning my head back on the bed that was behind me. I fell asleep with the faces of Danny, Axe, and Mike in my mind.

I was being woken by someone shaking my body, gently. I groaned as I wanted it to stop but it continued. I opened my sleepy eyes and found Turan there, looking at me with innocent, kind eyes. "Up." He tugged on my shirt, trying to get me to stand. "Up."

I smiled as I carefully and slowly got up, the pain becoming not as bad but still sore and painful. I see Marcus sitting up and eating and drinking water as if he hasn't had any in weeks. I understood his pain, I was him earlier, but I had food and water yesterday and the day before. I hesitantly sat next to him, not knowing if he and I were ok.

Gulab pointed to the single star on his uniform and asked, "Americayee?"

"Texas." Marcus nodded his head, looking at him.

"Americayee?" he then pointed to the American flag.

"Yes, Texas. America is Texas, yes."

"Tex." Turan said.

"Texas." I corrected, smiling at him.

"Texas." He smiled back, eager to learn new words it seemed.

Marcus stared between the boy and father and questioned, "Why are you doing this for us?"