He was filled with excitement. His body was weary. He was clean-shaven for the first time in days. He had just stepped off the plane. He thumbed a ride and now stood in front of the bright red door. What would she say? How would she look?
Oh the memories of her hair, her perfume. The touch of her skin. So soft behind the ears. Wrists that were so tiny and delicate. He had not seen her for over a year. Although letters had been written when there was time it was not the same. His name was Matt and he had been serving in the military for the last six years.
He had served his country well. He had earned many pins and badges. His rank moved up the longer he served. He had went in through a volunteer program. He went in as a skinny wet behind the ears kid and came out a man.
His buddies said that he was the one that would succeed in the outside. He worked the hardest. When others were afraid during the night they went to him. He shared tears for homesickness. He cried at lost lives. He listened while others read aloud letters from back home.
He had started out as a KP, kitchen duty. He peeled hundreds of potatoes by hand every day. He scrambled dozens of eggs and buttered thousands of slices of toast. He did dishes. He scrubbed floors. He even scrubbed toilets.
He could perform exercises quicker than any other man in his troop. He had built himself a name. He had earned respect. When someone mentioned his last name, people sat up and listened.
Eight months ago Matt was leading his troop into bad areas. Mysteries in the grounds greeted them, but with great skills they always completed their mission. This was his last mission to do and then he was being sent to another location. This was the last time he was going to lead these guys forward.
An explosion rumbled behind them and the last one following got hit. Matt, without thinking ran into harm’s way to save his fellow-man. Another explosion went off and it got his arm and one leg.
He still managed to save this man’s life and his own, but the scars of that final moment in action will be forever lived. Now standing in front of the door, he took his one arm and straightened his tie. He adjusted his hat to make sure it was on straight.
He looked down at the empty sleeve where at one time a limb showed through the cuffs. It was empty now. He had a limp when he walked but he was alive. He had received an honorable discharge.
He had made it. He had traveled many miles to be standing here. He knocked on the door and stood as tall as he could. No one answered. He knocked again, and still silence greeted him.
He didn’t have a key. He had left that behind long ago. His hand reached for the door handle. He tried turning it and it opened easily. It was quiet when he stood inside the door. He gently closed it not wanting to ruin the surprise. He licked his lips in anticipation of giving his wife the biggest kiss she had ever had.
He tiptoed through the familiar rooms and when he came to their bedroom door it was standing partially open. His knees became weak. Tears flowed from his eyes. His heart beat so hard it seemed to push itself through his chest.
He had went into the military a skinny kid and had fought with the best. He had earned the respect from his platoon. But no training on earth had prepared him for this. There was the lady who had kept him going. Her picture was always in his pocket. His memories of her brought him smiles and softened his heart.
The image had been broken. The glass cracked the mirror in his mind. There was his wife lying in the arms of another man. He turned and took his hat off. He dropped his face. He let his limp feel its full force. He walked back out the way he had come in. Slowly closing the door behind him, a broken man.
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This beautifully sad.
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thank you Valarie, don’t worry about the missing word. hugs my friend
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Sorry for missing the word was…
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no problem
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Did you write this and the Chapter’s i’ve been reading? If so, you have a lovely way of creating stories and if not, then you have wonderful taste in stories.
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I write everything that you read. My books and my short stories plus my poetry. Thank you for a nice comment!!
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Oh how terrible.
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It isn’t true. I just wrote it…
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hmm, I wonder if my tugboat man has ever thought that could happen with us. He goes away, he comes back, and oops, there I am with the postman. Nah, he knows me too well. I really liked this!
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no way does your man believe that. In fact as I was writing the story I was disappointed in the wife. Her husband was fighting for her rights, and she was so disrespectful to him and the country
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Exactly. It’s a cruel cruel thing to do to our heroes. Horrible and mean.
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I agree. It is sad that this does happen in the first place
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Oh No! How sad…where do you get these ideas from? Hugs Paula xxx
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somewhere in my head, lol
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Quite predictable in the end but it shattered my heart the same.. Nice.
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thank you Stranger. it is sad that this happens in life
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Terry, a brilliant post and fantastically written. It’s the truth and sad isn’t enough to express this degrace that US shows their soldiers.
Terry, there far too many broken men …. In US – men that has been mentally and physical damage
through the years – I think the movie “4th of July” is a prime example for that – and it hasn’t decreased. 0.5 million are seeking help after being in the Iraq war. What a waste of lives.
In all honesty I don’t think US government supports their wounded good enough. It’s all this about patriotism and for the country for the soldiers, that fight wars that isn’t even theirs. When they return as damage goods – what happens to them – nothing.
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there are many veteran homes here and our vets are just sitting there waiting to die. it is definitely a dishonor that they are not treated with more respect, considering they fought for our country
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So sad, but beautifully written : ) I wasn’t sure what he was going to find when he opened the door. You had me guessing up until the very last second. You are very talented my dear friend : )
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thank you so much Sheri. I am so happy you stopped by and chatted
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So sad!! But, it happens way too often to our military.
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it is indeed a sad fact…….
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