Page 30 of Defending What is Mine

Growing.

Moving toward the center. It’s terrifying, yet tranquil. My body screams with pain.

Except when I watch the darkness.

The more I focus on it, the more the hurting dulls.

Fades.

Just like the light…

…

…lost to the shadows…

…lost…

* * *

I’m nervous to knock. We haven’t spoken since I missed our video chat. What if she’s furious and slams the door in my face? I glance down at the flowers in my hand. What if she takes this bouquet and throws it in the snow? I take a deep breath. ‘Relax,’ I tell myself. She hasn’t seen you in months. Yes, you missed a call, but showing up real-and-in-person will more than make up for that. Come on, chill. Sam’s going to be ecstatic.

My knuckles rap against the door as I sigh heavily.

I hear a familiar voice call out from somewhere inside, ‘Stay there. Just a minute.’ Then the pitter-patter of footsteps. Finally, the door cracks open and she stands in front of me. As beautiful as ever. ‘Jack?’

Oh, the way she wears that pair of jeans. ‘Hey.’ Nervously, I hold out the flowers. ‘These are for you.’

‘Jack Wilde. Why, you…’

I smile. ‘I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I guess, maybe I was afraid you might be mad at me. For missing our call that day.’

Sam opens the door a little further, bracing herself against the cold. ‘I understand.’ She smiles. ‘You’re a Captain. Captain Wilde. Are you going to stay with me?’

I smile at the question, but then a cold wind blows, chilling me to the bone and causing me to let out a shiver as I tug at the collar of my coat. I step forward and joke, ‘These Colorado winds are tough on just about everyone. But coming back to winter here, after being over there? Sheesh.’

Sam’s smile fades. She takes a half-step back and closes the door. ‘Please, stay with me,’ she says before it slams shut.

‘Hey. Wait. Sam? I don’t understand. What’s the matter?’

From inside the house I hear her. ‘You’re a Captain… Captain Wilde...’

* * *

“Captain! Captain Wilde!”

The pain returns like a tsunami crashing against the shore. I feel it everywhere. From my teeth to my toenails. I don’t want to go on without her. I wouldn’t even know how. Her face has been the only thing that kept me going through some rough times. I can’t begin to imagine life without…

“Captain Wilde! Come on, now. Stay with me.”

I blink and it’s night again. And that smell. That godawful smell. Like meat burning.

“Captain. Captain Wilde? Can you hear me?”

I blink again, but all I see is black.

“There! Stay with me now. Stay with me.”

The noise. It’s loud. Like the sound of a Blackhawk. “Fire! I’m on fire.” I don’t recognize my own voice.

“You’re going to be alright, sir. Help is here.”

I feel myself rising up. The weight of gravity against my chest causes me to open my eyes again. This time, instead of black, I see the inside of a helo.

“That’s it. Stay with me. We’re going to get you all fixed up. Don’t you worry.”

“Jonesy. What about Jonesy?”

And Sam. What about Sam?

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