No Turning Back: Nowhere to run

1

Tamina is standing in the lobby with her bags waiting on her ride. She stares at her clock wondering where her husband can be, he knows how low her patience is. She begins tapping her foot and rocking. She reaches in her pockets to call Jeffrey and it begins to ring. She answers it, "Where are you?"

"I am outside. Where are you?" He asks. She can hear cars and people in the background. "I am in the lobby." She hangs the phone up and puts it back in her pocket. She spent hours on a plane and all she wants to do is get home, shower and relax. Jeffrey walks inside, he is holding the hand of their 8-year-old daughter. Tamina smiles as her daughter, Ariana's face lights up in excitement to see her mother. She rushes her and hugs her tightly, "Mommy, I miss you so much."

Taken back a little, "You do? You were just a baby when I left honey." Tamina says getting a little emotional. She missed so much of her daughter growing up she barely recognizes her and is shocked she knows who she is.

"I know mama, daddy always showed me pictures of you and the video chats."

Jeffrey hugs Tamina as well. He carries her bag to the truck. He puts her bags in the back while Tamina helps Ariana inside the seat. Ariana puts her headphones on while Tamina takes a seat in the passenger's side. She stares at her daughter using the rearview mirror feeling guilty. Video chats weren't enough. Jeffrey opens the truck's door and hops inside.

"After all these years you still look just as beautiful as I first met you." He leans over and kisses her. "I am so happy that you are home now."

"Yeah, me too." Tamina responds looking out the window.

She looks in the backseat at her daughter again, she becomes a little emotional but hides it. She wipes her eyes before Jeffrey noticed. They finally arrive to the house. Jeffrey grabs her bags from the truck because he knows she is going to want to unpack as soon as she gets in the house. "Nothing has changed." She examines the front yard.

Jeffrey runs to the door and waits for her to be by his side before opening it. He opens the door and drops her bag to the side.

"Welcome home Tamina!" Everyone shouts surprising her.

She stands there still for a moment, she goes into a trance, her head tilts a little and everything is moving in slow motion. Aunt Joy rushes her, Jeffrey noticing Tamina is not responding he figures something is wrong he tries to grab Aunt Joy but it was too late. Aunt Joy rushes Tamina reaching to hug her, but Tamina grabs her arm swings it around Joy's back and grabs a hold of her putting her in a chokehold.

Everyone gasps nervously, Jeffrey steps in front of Tamina putting himself in her eye view. With his hands out, "Whoa, Tamina. It is okay. It's your aunt Joy. Everything is okay." He slowly was able to remove her arms from around Joy's neck. Joy runs to the other side of the room where everyone else is at.

"Turn the music down someone. Let's give Tamina some time to adjust a little." Jeffrey says holding Tamina's hand.

Ariana clutches on to her dad's side scared. He looks Tamina in the eyes, "It is okay, you are safe now."

Tamina snaps out of it, he helps her to the room. He calms Ariana down, "What is wrong with mommy?" she asks scared.

"Mommy, has been to war, mommy has seen and done things and sometimes those things stick with you. When you Aunt Joy rushed mommy and reached for her it brought her back to when she had to fight." Jeffrey tries his best to explain to his scared daughter.

"Okay daddy. Is mommy going to be okay?" she asks.

"Yes, we are going to be here for mommy now. Now she is surrounded by people who love her."

Ariana smiles and runs out the room. Tamina is sitting on their bed staring at the ground. "I need to unpack." She states looking for her bags, "You want to give me my bags?"

"I was thinking maybe that can wait. We have guests downstairs waiting to see you. You attacked Joy honey and you should probably say something."

"I attacked Joy? Why would I do that?" she was confused. She gets up.

"Yes, you attacked Joy." Jeffrey explains what happened.

Tamina sighs in disbelief. she walks downstairs, she waves to everyone. As she walking pass family and friends she hears them whispering. Joy is in the kitchen grabbing a plate of food, she approaches her, "Hey Aunt Joy?"

Joy turns around, startled at the sight of her she flinches and looks for an exit.

Annoyed with her dramatics, "Jeffrey told me I attacked you, I'm sorry I did not realize what I was doing."

"Okay, glad you are back home. The military really messed you up huh?" she giggles nervously.

Not amused, "I am not messed up. I am perfectly fine." Tamina responds not liking the implication of her being screwed in the head. To prevent any further arguments Tamina walks away. She is not feeling 'the love' so she goes back upstairs to unpack.

After unpacking her things, she stares in the closet at her old clothes. She tries to remember a time when she ever wore any of it. She tries remembering her old life before the Marines and she can't. It's like it is erased from her brain. Jeffrey enters the bedroom and finds Tamina in the walk-in closet, he watches her for a moment. After a few moments he speaks, "Hey, what are you still doing up here?"

She turns around, "Everyone is looking at me like I am crazy, like I am dangerous. Joy implied the military messed me up, I am perfectly fine. I just rather not deal with anyone right now." She tells him.

"Okay, I'll bring you some food.
Hours past and everyone leaves. Tamina is lying in the bed trying to get comfortable. She throws a pillow on the ground and lies on the floor. Her hands crossed she manages to fall asleep.