Bloodshed.

10

The memory of Tyler dying plays slowly on repeat. Over and over. Each detail is exaggerated. I just watch him bleed out lifelessly on the ground. I keep trying to save him and keep seeing him die. No matter what I do I can't save him. He just keeps dying. And then the narrative switches. It isn't Tyler anymore it's James. He isn't bleeding from the ear and his head. His pouring blood from his chest. Multiple gun shot wounds. And no matter what I do he is dead. No matter how quick I run, how hard I tackle him, whatever I did it was never enough.

I shoot up from the mattress exorcist style as o take large gasping breathes. Desperately trying to fill my lungs with the air it had been so long deprived of. Then I feel the hands wrap around my waist and a body slide behind mine. Keeping me in the upright position. "It's okay. No one's going to hurt you. I've got you." She whispers almost more for herself then for me.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." I keep chanting over and over. And it wasn't even for the woman behind me it was for Tyler and James.

"Hey. Please calm down. Let's try this together. Okay just breathe until it feels good enough and then exhale. No counting just at your own pace." Her thin fingers move from my waist to my chest. She places her right hand over my heart and breathes with me. I feel the rise of her chest on my back and the slow, easy exhale on my neck.

"That's good. Do you want to lay back down again?" I just nod. She moves from behind me and I miss the feeling. It's weird.

She rolls to my left as I flip back down onto the hot mattress. I look at her and that's when I see it wasn't one of the veteran it was Tierna. She was staring back. "Everything is ok." She says with such assurance. Like nothing could go wrong when I was with.

"Yeah." I breathe out. Her right hand slides under the side of my face while her thumb rubs comforting circles on my cheek bone.

"No matter where you are. You always have me."

"I'll keep that in mind". I chuckle. As I stare back at her. "Wanna ride?" I question with a cocky smirk.

"What?" She questions not sounding appalled by the option.

"Come here." I say patting my chest.

"I'm not a dog Danny."

"May you please come closer to me". I question extending one of my hands.

"I will since you asked so nicely." She slides next to me and presses into my side.

"May I kiss you?" I question staring at her lips.

She doesn't respond as she presses her lips to mine. I don't push it, following her pace and adding a little pressure as time goes on. I lift her from my side to my chest and sit forward.

She breaks the kiss and leans back. "So this is what you meant by ride?" The rhetorical questions lays in the air as she pulls on my collar. "And you should really remove this". One final tug on my collar is enough for me to rip it from my body. I toss it on the floor and begin to lean up again.

Her cold fingers press into the center of my chest pushing me flat onto my back. "I'm only here today. Be quick." She says falling onto my chest in a kiss. I roll her onto her back and start my work on her neck. I take a break for air and to remove the badgering t-shirt. "Just tell me if you want me to stop." I say as I start working down her body. I reach behind her and unclip her bra. Giving me access to the hardening buds. I show them each equal attention before working my way further south. Once I get to the waistband I look up one more time to get confirmation which I do in the form of a nod before placing both hands on the elastic band and pulling down both articles of clothing in one quick swipe.