“Thanks, man, and if you need anything from me let me know.”
I shake my head. “You’re good.”
“No, I owe you. If anything comes up that you need from me, please let me know.”
“You don’t owe me anything. Don’t worry about it,” I insist.
He just shakes his head, but doesn’t try to stop me as I head out. I go right to the animal shelter because even though I’ve taken Bruno in for the time being, I still want to check in and help out. Gloria said she would call if anyone comes in with interest for Bruno, but I also want to check in person, just in case.
She gives me a big smile when I walk through the door but it’s one I don’t match, I just give her a head nod in greeting.
“How’s Bruno doing?” she asks brightly.
“Good, he seems to be comfortable. Has anyone shown any interest in him?”
She shakes her head. “Not yet.”
“Is it because he’s living with me? I don’t want to hold him back.”
“No, not at all. He’s still on the website, and I’m sure he’s much happier at your house than he was here.”
I nod, knowing he is, but I feel bad having him get too comfortable when he’s going to end up going to another home at some point.
“I got a good one for you to walk today if you want,” Gloria offers brightly.
I nod again, not saying anything as she leads me to the kennels and up to a chocolate Lab who wags his tail as soon as he sees us.
“This sweet boy is Maverick,” she introduces. “He was picked up the other day and I think he has a family looking for him, so we’re doing what we can to find them.”
I take the leash off the hook and lead him out. He’s a lot more energetic than Bruno, which I don’t mind. He sniffs the ground, going to several bushes and trees on our walk, but just like with any dog, my favorite thing is that we don’t have to talk.
Part of me wants to talk about the situation with Bailey that I can feel it escalating. Or at this point it’s escalated past the point of no return because touching her again made me realize I’m not going to be able to stop.
She likes the sound of it too, I know she does. If she wants to act like a brat and be treated like one, then she’ll get punished like one. But when she behaves she’ll get rewarded, even though shemay enjoy the punishments I have planned with the way she keeps testing me.
My phone goes off in my pocket, and I think for a moment it might be Bailey, but when I pull it out, I’m met with a message from someone I didn’t expect.
Chris: Hey.
Chris and I served together for years. He was my copilot the day that changed our lives. We talk every once in a while, but at least for me, every time we talk I feel the memories surface. They’re so much worse, than the pain radiating in my leg, a physical reminder of that day.
Wes: How’s it going?
He doesn’t respond right away, and it’s slightly concerning that he’s reaching out, and I can’t help but wonder why. I feel like I only hear from my fellow soldiers when I’m being told someone else has died.
I’ve witnessed and experienced so much death, it’s easy to be numb to it, but it also makes me question many things about my own life. Like when I wonder why I’m still here yet they aren’t.
Apparently it’s survivors’ guilt. At least that’s what I’ve been told. I don’t really care what it is. I can’t help that it takes over my thoughts at times like this. Just like I can’t help when the memories of that day assault my mind. Or the funerals. Or anything else from my past.
When my arm is yanked I realize I stopped walking, and Maverick is clearly not happy about it.
We continue down the trail, and I wait for Chris to reply. He doesn’t live near me, and the last I heard he was somewhere in the Midwest. But I think the last time we spoke was over a year ago, so he could be living anywhere now.
Chris: How you been?
I furrow my brow at the screen. I remember him being similar to me when we worked together. Not a big talker, so this seems even weirder that he’s just wanting to have a conversation out of the blue.
Wes: Fine, I guess. You?
