Hey, sorry guys, this isn't another chapter. The truth is, something bad has happened. This morning I got a call that one of the men from my platoon, one of my buddies was shot and killed after a party off base.

The truth is, I didn't believe it at first. Just seemed like a dream, but it was real. Worst part is his wife is pregnant and is close to giving birth. And now his son will never know his father.

Its just something that came out of nowhere, and its not something I expected to ever happen to someone I care about. If I had known friday was the last day I would talk to him, I would have said something more than what I did.

This is just a way to help me cope. I know it won't bring him back, but I wanted to do a small tribute to him anyways. I know I didn't know him as well as I could have, but he was a great guy, he was funny and had a good attitude about life.

Rest in Peace Dearius.

"Why are we stopping here?" Winter asked as Jem was silent through the whole trip.

"Just need to do something really quick." He said as he stepped out of the truck.

Winter noticed that they were parked at a graveyard. She didn't step out at first. She saw Jem walk all the way over to an obsidian grave marker and pull out a flask and pour some of its contents out onto the grave. Curious, she got out and walked over to him.

The tombstone didn't have a name, just initials, DF.

"Who was he?"

"A friend."

"Was he killed in action?"

"No...he was killed over here in the world, drive by shooting." Jem said as he put his hand on the tombstone.

"I'm sorry..." Winter knew it had to be tough to lose a friend.

"Truth is...when I was in, we knew there was a chance we could deploy and possibly die, but knowing that he was killed over here by some thug...it just hit different, it hurt like hell..." He said as he clenched his hand tightly on the grave.

"But...I know theres no changing the past...if there was, I would have gone back and said something more than just joking with him about his PT test...I would have asked to go have a beer with him, I would have done anything if it meant I could see him laughing and joking with us all again...and now part of me is filled with regret, because now I know I'll never have the chance to be closer to him..." Jem admitted he still had trouble dealing with it.

"But again, I know he probably would look down on us telling us to get over his death and enjoy life while we can." Jem stood up.

"Is that the reason you are the way you are?"

"Sort of, truth is, I know life is fleeting and only death is guaranteed, so I know theres no point in wasting time on petty stupid shit, no time to waste complaining about how because your food was late, it means your day is ruined...because it could always be worse."

"If at the end of your day your friends and family are still with you, then its a good day to be alive." Jem left the flask at the grave site.

"I'll see you next week Big D...we all miss you."

With that, the two got back in the truck and left.

You can't change the past, but you can live for the future.