Cadet [Wattys 2016]

Bad News

Back at Operations, Tuesday morning

After Gabby came out of the school, the driver had to drive pretty fast to drive away from the cars chasing us. Apparently, Gabby's parents had connections and had convinced her to plant that bomb. She was caught, and I had succeeded.

Today is back to training.  Ward said when I got back that we'd work on more combat skills this week, and the next time I was here, we'd work on my cover stories and excuses. I had to agree with him when he said mine sucked. Badly.

We're down in the training room. I'm practicing on a punching bag. "Focus." Ward says. "Your form is getting messy." I quickly adjust and go back to smacking the bag.

Another agent comes in. "Ms. Brynn? I'm supposed to give you a message." She says. "Is now a good time? You might want to sit down to here this." Instantly, dread fills my lungs, and I look at Ward for approval, feeling my eyes grow larger. He nods, and I take a seat at the edge of the training mats. "Your brother was diagnosed with cancer. He's been given six months. Directory Fury's already arranged plans for you to fly out and see him, if you want to." The lady says.

A cold feeling spreads through me. It's not dread, it's not fear, it's just cold. It's heavy, and I can't shake it off. My brother... Has cancer? Not possible. Six months? My tears are cold and silent and I fold up.

"Brother? I thought you were an orphan." Ward asks, confused. "It's a long story." I sob-swallow, curling up and closing my eyes. I feel someone sit down next to me. "Hey, Breezy. Come here. Everything's going to be fine. You're gonna be alright." I crawl into Ward's arms, silent tears lining my face. "How can you say that?" I whisper. "My brother's going to die. I love him. I don't want him to die."

"Tell me about him." Ward says.

"Well, his name is Lucas. He should be third grade by now. He loves baseball, and I mean loves baseball. He and I were close. I used to take him to the field to play when he was five or six after school. I'd take him everyday, and my older sister on weekends. Lucas never got bored of it. He wanted to be the best at baseball ever. That was his goal. Nothing more." I smile sadly. Then it fades as I remember the last time I saw him. He was six, almost seven. I remember him hugging my waist tightly as I said goodbye. I remember him begging me to stay, begging his parents. I remember him waving sadly and crying from the front porch as the black car drove away with me inside.

"I don't want to think about it anymore." I say suddenly, trying to pull myself back into focus. "Can we go back to training?"