A Starling's Awakening

The Other Side Of The Coin

It was a cold, rainy Friday afternoon. It was the first Friday of January. I was at the laundromat with Linn. With a little more than a week left on the base, we were both looking forward to getting back to our home towns, and our families.

We noticed something happening outside. A soldier was running down the road. He was being pursued by the Military Police. They caught him, and detained him on the scene. Moments later their commanding officer showed up. The soldier was transported from the scene.

That evening, I told Bret what I had witnessed.

"His name is Bryce Phillison. He's from our home town, from the Paska neighborhood."

"Was he trying to get free of the slums?"

"Trying. It turns out he's a heroin addict. He's been hiding it all this time. I met him the day we left for basic."

"So what will happen to him?"

"Dishonorable Discharge. He didn't have any on him, and none was found in his gear, but it turned up in his blood test. He admitted he's an addict. He's been sneaking into town to buy it."

"Will he be going to jail?"

"I don't think so. Not unless he is arrested by the civilian authorities when he is dropped off in town tomorrow morning."

"Bret, is he the guy whose life you saved?" He hugged me as tightly as he thought he safely could.

"Yes. He was high, and wasn't paying attention. That's why he was where he wasn't supposed to be."

"You're worried about him aren't you?"

"Yes, honey. I am."

Bret and I joined the other soldiers from Bret's unit and their wives at the front gate at eight o'clock in the morning. We silently watched as Bryce Phillison was dropped off by the Military Police. He walked out through the gate with his head hanging. He was looking straight ahead.

I wanted to cry. I wanted to run to him, give him a hug, and tell him to look us up in a week or so. When I looked at Bret, his expression said the same thing.

That afternoon, Bret and I were on the sofa. He picked up his phone, found Mark's number in his contact list, hit dial, and put it on speaker. It rang 3 times.

"Hello, Bret. How are you and your beautiful bride?"

"We are well. What is the name of the recovery facility you were in?"

"Hope on a Hilltop. Why?"

"Once we're done here, I'm going hunting. One of my buddies from boot-camp needs their services. Will you call them and make sure they will have a bed available in a couple of weeks?"

Dear Diary, sometimes life really hurts. My husband has the biggest heart of anyone I have ever met.