The Fighter

Chapter 39

Ky and I got to the MVA. Ky and I got out the tools and put the tarps down. I saw them send one of the newest guys out into traffic duty. It sucks, because they want some of the action. I know, because not too long ago, that's all that they had me doing, and I hated it. I was on the cutting crew. No, that is not the real name to that, in fact there actually isn't a name for that. Something was weird, like the night air didn't feel right. Pete wasn't there and neither was Greg. I was watching down the road for a minute. "Mickie! What the hell are you doing?!" Ky pushed me. "What? Sorry. I spaced out for a minute." I shook my head and got back to work. I couldn't shake the feeling. "Are you okay?" Jet asked walking by me. "Yeah, I'm fine." "You don't act it." "Shut up. I'm fine." I sighed and ignored him. As far as they know, he's on his way back, they don't know that he's not here yet.

When we got back to the station I was half asleep washing trucks. I have not gotten any sleep in weeks and I'm really really sick of it. Hopefully it all changes. "Mickie! Wake up! We need to get this done!" Ky pushed me. "I'm going! I'm going!" I smacked him with the brush. "Hey! No horse play in the truck bay!" Jet laughed at us. "Don't make me spray you with this hose!" Harry came out and laughed at us. Just one big happy family. "Whatever guys." I laughed. "So tomorrow is the Truck Spectacular up in Ucca Flatts. We're bringing the tanker, the pickup, and the four wheeler with the trailer. Who wants to go?" Harry changed the subject. "I'm in!" I spoke up first. "I'll go!" Jet spoke up. He wanted to drive a truck, I know it. "We're bringing some of our new youth group members." "Like Pete's youngest son Cam, and my nephew Todd." "Should be fun!" Ky laughed. "Why don't you want to go Ky?" "I promised my uncle that I would take him to the barn his sister owns so he could see her." He shrugged. "Way to ditch me!" "Sorry." "No you're not." "No, I'm not." We laughed and got over it like we always do.

At the Fire truck Spectacular, there were a lot if departments and we were even close by the departments that we work with a lot. I was with the kids and we went walking around. I've known these kids forever and they're good kids, just like us... We found the voting stand and voted for the best appearing trucks, I couldn't help but love the way these kids got into it. The same way that I used to, when I was way younger. We got back to our trucks and I sat on the back of the pickup. Pete showed up with his wife. No Greg. Then, he got a phone call and started flipping out. He left and Harry promised to look after Cam and take him home afterward. The strangest things happen when I'm not paying attention. We ended up winning Best Appearing Tanker and everyone was proud. At the end of the show, all the trucks turn on their sirens and blare them altogether. It's a really amazing to see and hear.

Ky, Jet, and I were just chilling at the station when we all got back. Harry took the kids home and then went home to get ready for work himself. The phone rang while we were playing cards. "Fire House." Ky answered the cordless phone. "Hey, yeah." He took it in the other room and talked to them for about twenty minutes before coming back in. He had this look of disbelief on his face. My heart sank. I had a really bad feeling about this. "Mickie, I have to tell you something, and I want you to be prepared." Ky sat in front of me and sighed. It wasn't good. "What is it Ky?" "It's about that call that Pete got at the Truck show. It was about Greg. His ex-wife called him and said that something had happened to him." "What happened? Is he okay?" I asked trying not to cry. "No, I'm afraid not." He rubbed his face with his hands and then looked back up at me. "He killed himself today." I couldn't believe what I had just heard. I shook my head and the tears fell. "In Virginia?" "Yes, he never made it back home." "That's not true, that's not true Kyle! He was here with me last night! He took his gear back! Go look, it's not there anymore!" It was a lie, it had to be. "Mickie, it's there. His gear is here and he wasn't." "But he text me! He text me after I left here!" I showed him the message, it said "I love you." "Mickie, he did send that to you this morning. But he's gone." I was crying hysterically. I couldn't stop. I didn't want to believe it, but I knew it was true. "Why did he do it?" "No one knows." Ky hugged me. "Now what do we all do?" I asked really afraid of the answer. "We get ready for a funeral."

If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and / or thinking about suicide please reach out. You matter! Your life matters! I know it only takes one bad day worse than all the rest, but please things will get better. Please seek help in a parent,a friend, a teacher, a professional or you can call the suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255 it is okay to not be okay!

Rest Easy and God Speed Brother, We'll take it from here R.IP. CFD173