I frown, not sure what he’s talking about. What was harder? But then my eyes flick up to the date at the top of the screen, and my stomach drops as the realization hits. Griff died a year ago today. I’ve been so focused on Freya and her campaign that I haven’t paid attention, and I can’t decide if that makes me a terrible friend for forgetting or if it means I’m healing.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I type out the first text I’ve sent to one of my brothers-in-arms in more than six months.
Elliot:
I’m okay. I’ve been distracted and didn’t realize the day.
Wade:
That’s good.
Elliot:
Is it?
Wade:
We both know losing Griff messed with your head. Take this as a good sign.
It’s clear why you’re distracted. If the job gets too messy, you know you can come back.
Wade is the quietest of the ODA, usually sitting back while louder voices like Bax or North command attention, but he always had my back, even when things got rough. We worked closely together, and he was the one who suggested I take a break and work on base for a while.
But he’s also been one of the more vocal guys about me coming back to the team. I have no contractual obligations to the Army at this point because I made sure I fulfilled the required years of service before resigning, but from the sound of things, it wouldn’t take much for me to reenlist and get back on my team.
Though I hate acknowledging it, I’ve had moments when I thought about starting the process. Mostly during those moments when Freya seems to be leaning toward accepting Grimstad’s marriage proposal. I’ve found my rhythm with this post over the last few days, but the idea of being behind her while he gets to be at her side…
“She hasn’t made a decision,” I remind myself, but that doesn’t mean much. There’s a fifty percent chance that my job is about to become a lot more painful than it already is.
Choosing not to respond to Wade’s last message, I instead send a text to Nora, Griff’s wife, and tell her that I wish I could be there for her and the girls. I can’t imagine how hard a day like today will be for them. To my surprise, she responds quickly.
Nora:
Thanks, Elliot. It means a lot to know you’re thinking about him too.
Guilt floods my belly, but I ignore it and focus on the picture she sends with her text. It’s a selfie she took with her two daughters in front of Griff’s headstone, and though she was clearly crying at some point, she’s smiling right alongside her girls. I can’t help but laugh at the messy state of the girls’ hair, which was a pretty common occurrence when I lived with them, and a pang of sadness hits me. I thought I was ready to move on, but I miss those girls. It felt less like Griff was gone when I was around them because they were so much like their dad. Even with how little they got to see him before he died.
Nora:
Melody can’t stop telling her friends about how her Uncle Elliot takes care of a real-life princess.
Elliot:
I bet they don’t believe her.
Nora:
Not even a little bit. But we’re all proud of you for finding something good, Elliot.
I wonder if she’s read any of the tabloids. Is she talking about the job, or is she talking about Freya?
Elliot:
I should get back to work, but tell the girls hi for me.
Nora:
Of course. Good luck with everything!
