The Hard Let Go!

The Beginning Of The Challenge!

Macy has always been around the Army aspects of life, her father was a part of the Infantry combat personnel, his rank was Lieutenant Colonel, he would go into combat against enemy forces. Her mother on the other hand was a Flight Surgeon, she would fly into combat to administer emergency medical care to wounded soldiers to transport them back to safety. These are the two most dangerous roles to be a part of, facing combat face to face. Macy used to live in Alabama, but was relocated to Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina. Moving from base to base was never easy, but Macy's parents both knew they wanted some stability for Macy so she was enrolled in public school off base. Freshman year of high school Macy was just starting her school year in a new town. Macy met and slowly fell in love with Blaine; they were in almost every class together, He ended up helping her settle into a new school to find out that his father was also in the Army. Macy and Blaine connected super fast after they found out they lived on the same base. Blaine and Macy spent most of their time together if they weren't at school they were over at each other's house. Macy dad was on deployment to Afghanistan for the last year and a half out of a two year deployment. Three weeks into freshman year Macy was just having lunch with her friends and Blaine, when the principal came up to her and Blaine with very devastating news. Macy will never forget the look on Mr. Harper's face when he looked at her to pass the news along. "Macy, would you and Blaine please come to the office?" asked Mr. Harper. "What is this about?" asked Macy. "It's about your dad, there has been an accident!" exclaimed Mr. Harper. "Is he okay?" asked Macy. "Please let's talk about this in private." replied Mr. Harper. Macy slowly got up from the lunch table almost in tears, when Blaine threw his arm around her as they walked to the office. "Macy, they didn't give me a lot of information however, the Base Commander said he would hopefully have more answers for you when you returned to base. All I know is that your dad was traveling to a safe location when they hit a landmine and flipped the vehicle." explained Mr. Harper. "Macy, we should go back to the base!" exclaimed Blaine.

Macy and Blaine returned back to base and went to the hospital immediately, as soon as they arrived the Base Commander was waiting. "Macy, Lieutenant Colonel Justin was involved in a vehicle fire and suffered third-degree burns to his face, arms, and legs, covering 80% of his body." explained the Base Commander. He has a long recovery ahead of him, but at this time He was medically discharged as an active soldier due to his injuries. He later then passed away as his chest cavity was exposed and his body couldn't regulate the steady body heat. Blaine knew he would need to be there and help Macy through losing her father, she was super close to her father. Junior year of high school Macy and Blaine have been together for two years. Macy was in the same situation as she was at the beginning of her freshman year. Although this time she was just about to her third class of the day. Studying and focusing on her psychology class there was a knock at the door, Mr. Harper was standing there as Ms. Wagner answered the door. Macy could tell they were talking about her as they both kept looking in her direction. Ms. Wagner slowly walked over to Macy, as she knowingly had an idea what was going on. "Macy, Mr. Harper would like a word with you out in the hallway." explained Ms. Wagner. Macy slowly grabbed her stuff and walked out to the hall. "Mr. Harper, We are here again I see." replied Macy. "Macy, do you want Blaine here?" asked Mr. Harper. "Is this about my mom?" asked Macy. Mr. Harper nodded yes. "Then yes" replied Macy. "Do you know what class he is? Macy cut him off before he could finish "Shop" replied Macy. Macy and Mr. Harper went to the shop class at the end of the hall. Mr. Harper went in and grabbed Blaine. Blaine knew exactly what was going on. "Macy, Is it your mom?" asked Blaine "yes, something happened to her." replied Macy. "Macy, there has been an accident involving your mom. You know the protocol. "explained Mr. Harper. Macy and Blaine arrived at the hospital on base there was the Base Commander "Macy, I'm sorry. There was an accident involving your mother. The enemies fired a bomb at the aircraft, it went down and there are no survivors." explained the Base Commander. The grief of losing a father two years ago and now the loss of a mother that type of grief hits differently. Macy never really had any other family as they all were too upset at both of her parents because they chose to bring her into a life that one day could have a devastating impact on an innocent life. Macy was officially on her own, but in a way not completely alone as she is only 17 years old legally not able to live on her own. She knew it was only a matter of time before the Base Commander would ask Macy to make living arrangements, so she asked Blaine and his dad if they would willingly take her in. They eventually came to an agreement and got it approved by the Base Commander.