Page 8 of Embers in Our Souls
Something tugs at my heart when he calls meson, knowing that these two people have felt more like parents in the few short years I’ve known them than the actual people who share my DNA. My smile is genuine as I look at him through my screen.
Jerry has been working remotely for a while anyways, so he can work anywhere they can find internet. He started out as a general contractor, but he now oversees his own business. Since becoming the boss, he manages everything from his computer. This gives him the freedom to work from paradise, as he’s doing at the moment.
Scarlet sold her business shortly after Georgie’s death; her heart wasn’t in it anymore. Prior to his passing, she ran a successful home design company. She was highly sought after, with a long list of clients when she decided to walk away. Technically, Scarlet and Jerry don’t need to work anymore, with enough savings and investments to keep themselves afloat. But Jerry says he enjoys staying busy with his company, even if it’sjust remotely. He mostly handles the contract agreements and phone calls with clients so that his team is free for the hands-on portion of the job.
The only problem was, the heartache they felt being in this house was overwhelming. When I confessed I was hoping to settle down after traveling throughout the States for a stretch of time, they asked if I would consider caring for their home. I had been looking for a place to live and I jumped at the chance help them out.
I’ve been living in their house since they decided to travel the world, leaving me behind to care for their home in Boston. When I got back from the Army, I had seen and experienced far more than anyone ever should. I never thought I’d recover from the devastation I’d witnessed. Therapy and months of work on myself got me through it. I’m thankful for the hours I invested in myself, and I can finally say I’m through those dark times in my life.
I’ve been steadily building my social media account as an influencer throughout the years since returning to civilian life. People have been following along as I work out in different locations throughout the States. Posting and connecting with the online community has proven to have a positive impact on me.
At first, I never imagined anyone would watch my content. I did it for me, hoping it would help me decompress from the stress I endured on a daily basis. And I’ll admit, I’ve enjoyed building my following once I saw it take off. Seeing different parts of the United States was exciting at first, but the constant movement from one place to another became tiring.
Looking back from the man I am now to the young kid I once was, it’s strange to see how much I’ve evolved. Seeing so much of the world helped me grow and I’m grateful I haven’t become more bitter and recluse. I could have let the ugliness of what happened in the Army push me further into depression, but Iwas able to find help, which I’m grateful for. Many don’t have the same story to tell. I’ve surrounded myself with the right people. Although, I know I’ve pushed one special person away; which I will admit, that might be one of my biggest regrets in life.
My social media content became a type of journaling for me, where I got to document my life and connect with others. I never expected it to take off. I posted some videos I had from my time in the service, some of which were workouts I had saved on my phone; but most of my content is newer, focusing on how my workout routine benefits me physically and mentally.
As time passed, I started to realize I needed to settle somewhere and finally find a career that differed from military life and the social media life I had cultivated. I wanted to find a group of friends and build solid, meaningful relationships again. I had pushed many of the people I cared about away because of Georgie’s passing, feeling incredibly lost when he died.
Even though I now work at the firehouse, having the social media presence helped bring steady income when I first retired from the Army. Even though the guys at the station have been making fun of the fact the female following is only growing by the day, I think keeping it up as a side-gig is something I’d like to continue.
Apparently, there’s a SpaceBook group out there now namedHunt’s Prowlers. I don’t look at it, nor do I manage it, but the guys constantly read the comments when we have slow nights at the firehouse. It gets a laugh out of me how these people will become fascinated by the fact I’m working out without a shirt on.
The last time I had seen Jerry and Scarlet prior to moving to Boston was for Georgie’s funeral service, five years ago. Their heartbreak was my own. And then, I shattered what little remained of my own world shortly after that day.
By the time Georgie’s parents connected with me again, I was in a better place in my life and that’s how I found myself inBoston. Being here gave me the opportunity to start fresh. They gifted me a chance to find myself again in a community rich in culture and life, something I was craving more than I realized.
“Where did you go, Hunter?” Scarlet asks, eyebrows knitted in concern.
“Sorry, got lost in thought,” I tell her, a smile tugging on my lips.
“Oh? Is it about a girl?” Scarlet waggles her brows.
“Scar, don’t make the boy uncomfortable,” Jerry says, shaking his head.
“What? The boy is young and so handsome. I bet he has a line out the door. What’s the big deal?” She puts her hands on her hips.
“Don’t give him the third degree. This isn’t one of your romance novels.” He takes a drink of his beer and sits back in his chair. “Speaking of which, have I told you, Scarlet reads porn now?” Jerry makes a face. “Ow, what was that for?” He rubs at his upper arm after Scarlet smacks him.
“I do not readporn, old man!” Scarlet seethes at him. “I read romance novels that happens to have sex in them.”
Jerry brings his face closer to the camera. “It’s porn. I read some lines when she was in the water earlier. It’s dirty.” He chuckles and it’s hard to keep a straight face.
“Really, Jerry? So, you like reading my smutty books? Wanna buddy-read them with me?” She looks over, intrigued.
“Buddy-read? What’s that?” He looks confused.
These two are as bad as Clay and River. I rub my hand down my face then snap my fingers. “Hey, remember me?”
“Sorry, Hunter.” Scarlet looks back at the camera. “Jerry gets jealous I give my book more attention than him.” She rolls her eyes, but gives him a small smile. “But seriously, is there anyone special in your life?”
“No special someone. Still getting used to everything at the station. I’m liking it a lot though. A few more months before I’m no longer a probie.”
I joined back at the end of summer, so I have a few more months until I reach my one-year mark. I thought it would be a bigger adjustment for me to fit in, but the guys welcomed me right away. Personally, I hang out with River, Clay, and Malloy, but even those who I’m not close to outside of the firehouse have been easy to bond with.
“I’m glad you found your fit in the city. Boston is a great place. Have you made it to a Gaels game yet?” Jerry asks.
“Not yet, but I’m hoping to go soon. I actually happen to know someone that works at the organization. She’s engaged to one of the firefighters at my station.” I grab ingredients to make a protein shake.
