But then we landed and were immediately whisked away to the base because there was some kind of threat. As soon as we got there, a helicopter arrived to evacuate a few injured military personnel. Ava, one of them was missing limbs. It was shocking to see firsthand the damage IEDscan do to a body. I knew it happened, but seeing it up close and personal as they were loaded into the chopper just hit home, and I knew I wouldn’t be going AWOL. In that moment, I understood why I’m here and what I need to do. I need to fix people like him. Ones with worse injuries even. And someday… ones like your mom.
I love you to the moon and back, you know that. But this is my calling. That I’m sure of. I’m going to be the best surgeon one day. And it’s all because of you. Your love. Your support. Your unwavering confidence that our love will endure.
As I write this, I’m staring at the picture you took of us four days ago. I know how sad you were that I was leaving, but I promise that will not be the last time we visit our tree. I swear to you, every time I’m home, we’ll go there. Even if it’s just so I can kiss you and make a new memory for us to hold onto. Because memories of you are what’s going to get me through this.
I have to laugh a little, because by the time you receive this letter, we’ll have emailed each other for sure, and maybe even gotten to talk on the phone. (I can’t wait for that. I already miss your sexy, calming, oh-so-familiar voice.) But we said we’d write. I know you wanted to add to your collection of letters in your box. I think you may need to get a bigger box!
Just remember one thing. What we go through during these years will all be worth it in the end. Especially when I get to take off my white coat at the end of a long day of doing what I love and come home to a big, beautiful house where my wife and children will run out to greet me.
Yours forever,
Trev
Chapter Three
James
Ahand touches my shoulder, shaking it slightly. “Lieutenant Davis, can you open your eyes?”
I try to do what the woman asks, but… damn my head hurts. Not only my head, other things hurt. My right arm. My left side. My legs. One of my eyes and my entire face.
What the hell?Was I in a car accident?
“Lieutenant Davis?” More shoulder shakes. “James, can you hear me?” I feel fingers slip beneath my left hand. “Can you squeeze my fingers?”
I do as she asks.
“Good. Now try to open your eyes.”
Bright fluorescent overhead lights assault my vision as I attempt to figure out where I am and what happened. But it’s difficult considering I can barely even see out of one of my eyes.
“That’s it. There you go.”
I try to sit up, but groan when various pains shoot through me.
“Easy now,” the woman says. “You’ve been out of it for weeks. I’ll adjust the bed up a bit. You shouldn’t try to sit for a while.”
I make eye contact with the woman wearing a lab coat. She’s a doctor. So Iwasin an accident. I go to speak, but nothing comes out.
The doctor puts a straw to my mouth. “Take a sip. It’ll help you speak.”
I drink, which is hard because I could swear I’m nursing one hell of a split lip.
I clear my throat and try again. “What, um…” I look around the room. There’s a shit ton of medical equipment in here. “What happened?”
“You don’t remember?”
I shake my head and immediately utter a quiet curse as I regret the motion.
“It’s okay,” she says. “That’s pretty typical for what you’ve been through. I’m Dr. Simms. Can you tell me where you are?”
“Hospital.”
“That’s right. And can you tell me what month it is?”
I cock my head and think. She said I’ve been here for weeks, that would make it…
I glance around the room again, looking for clues. I have no idea what month it is. Strange.
