“It says that more and more amputees are able to return to active duty in the armed forces, albeit in different positions sometimes and usually not in frontline combat jobs. I may not be able to be an ammunition specialist anymore, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t make myself useful somewhere else in the Army.”
She leaned back in her chair. “You’re not far enough along in your recovery to serve in any position.”
“Maybe, but I will be. You know I will. And, in the meantime, I can do an administrative job.”
“Such as?”
I took a deep breath. “Make me a recruiter. Give me a year to get in shape and adapt to my prosthesis, and after that, we can reevaluate. I’m not ready to leave the Army just yet.”
“Why not? That’s a serious question, Sergeant, not a flippant dismissal.”
“I know. And the answer is that I need more time. The Army has been my whole life, and…” I swallowed. “I’m not ready to say goodbye just yet. I’ve started therapy, and I’m making greatprogress physically. But a discharge now would set me back for sure. As much as it pains me to say it, I’m not sure I’m strong enough yet to deal with that loss.”
Her eyes grew soft. “Oh, Creek, I’m so proud of you for admitting that. I’ve been so worried about you.”
“You have?”
She waved her hand. “I know, I know. I’m supposed to be professional and keep my distance. But some people just get to me, and you were one of them. I wanted to help you so badly, but I wasn’t sure how to get through to you.”
“Thank you.”
How was that for baffling? I’d been a grumpy asshole to her—though not quite as bad as with Heath—yet she’d taken to me and had worried about me.
“What made you change your mind? What triggered that decision?”
Shit, I hadn’t fully thought this through. I hadn’t planned on coming out, not even considering it might come up. Should I? Or was it better to keep this to myself? The Army was still a largely conservative bastion where progress trickled through the ranks slowly.
But that meant hiding. Not only hiding that I had a boyfriend but also hiding a part of myself. No, I couldn’t do that.
I raised my chin, my body tense in anticipation. “My boyfriend did.”
Her eyes widened, but then she caught herself, and a wide smile spread across her face. “I’m glad to hear that. Was it something he said?”
I blew out a breath. “No, but he made me want to be the best version of myself. I took out a lot of my anger on him when we first met. Not physically,” I added quickly, seeing her frown. “But he took some verbal abuse that wasn’t pretty. I guess Ihadn’t fully realized the depths of my anger until he and Nash held up that mirror. Staff Sergeant Brockway, I mean.”
She chuckled. “I’m well aware you live with him and two others, Creek. Trust me, I know your file inside and out. And I’m so glad to hear you took that step. Are you seeing a difference in yourself?”
I nodded. “It’s hard to pinpoint, but I’m less angry, I guess. Not quite ready to meet with Private Watts and hug him or some shit, but let’s just say that if he stepped in front of my car now, I wouldn’t hit the accelerator.”
She snorted. “Well, that’s progress, alright.”
I shrugged. “It’s the best I can do right now.”
“Your best is all you can do. At least, that’s what my wife always tells me.”
Her wife? Something told me this wasn’t common knowledge or something she shared with just anyone. Glenda and I shared a look that said everything we couldn’t put into words. We were allies now, kindred spirits. She would have my back the same way I’d have hers. “Then your wife is a smart woman…”
“She is.”
“Do you think I have a chance at returning to active duty? That this could work?”
Glenda slowly nodded, tapping her pen against her chin. “It’s gonna be a long process. Lots of paperwork, lots of hoops to jump through, lots of people who have to sign off on this.”
“It’s the United States Army. I expected nothing less.”
“Just trying to manage your expectations. As for becoming a recruiter, that’s a smart step. We’re short on those.”
“I did some research, and that’s what I discovered.”
