Sudorific: A Painful Return (Lesbian)

09/03/2013

"Welcome back, Staff Sergeant," Santiago greets me with a smile as I sit down. "What is this briefing about?" Ironically, this was the popular question in the room.

After our Company Commander reported in the classroom, he answers the popular question of the day. "I hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend because we're deploying in six months to Iraq." Captain Charleston announce without any sensitivity.

After the announcement, some of us contained the excitement and some do not.

I'm somewhat excited.

I think this would be good for me – it will keep my mind off Terry.

Looking at Santiago, I see the fear in her eyes as she tries to cover up emotions, hiding vulnerability like many in the room while our CO opens the floor for questions.

For the meantime, my heart weighs heavy within moments as I stare at another soldier hide her emotions.

I wonder if she's thinking of her family of six?

A soldier raises their hand to ask, "When did you find out we were deploying, Captain?"

"That is an irrelevant question, Corporal Milowski. Just know I've informed you as soon as I could, so we can start our training. HOOAH?" Captain Charleston closes the class discussion quickly.

We all sound off, "HOOAH!"

After dismissal, the platoon no longer hid their emotions under their sleeves, "Man, this is some bull shit," One soldier says underneath his breath, leaving quickly with agitation.

"I don't know about you motherfuckers, but I've been waiting to jump out of a damn plane!" Barkley celebrates with excitement.

"Barkley, shut up," I say with agitation. Suddenly, Santiago leaves quickly.

"Are you going to go after her, Sergeant?" Barkley ask.

"...No, I'm going to let her breathe." I say while checking my phone noticing a missed call from my mother.

"Yes, mom?" I call her back.

"Well, hello there? I forgot what your voice sounds like?" She says with wit. I chuckle then apologize for dodging her phone calls.

There is no excuse for ignoring my mother, but I didn't feel like talking about Terry – because I know she would.

Knowing my mother, she will not immediately ask about "us". Instead, she'll dance around the question with my father by adding him – the talking jack to the conversation. "How is recovery, Kiddo?"

I willingly dance around the conversation along with them and say, "It's great, dad. Hey, I just found out I'm deploying in February,"

My mother lightly gasps from the word she dreads hearing. Luckily, my father never went into combat. To my mother, her daughter gets the bad hand dealt in the game of luck. I share that I'm looking forward to combat training and the extra income in the near future. "I did raise my right hand and swore to serve and protect this country,"

I can hear my father smile on the phone, "You'll be just fine," He says. Sadly, my mother doesn't agree with him. After assuring and verbally consoling my mother, she manages to stop dancing around the infamous question: "How are you and Terry doing?"

Assuming she would forget to ask, I kick myself for not knowing better. "I and Terry haven't talked in months, so I don't know, mom,"

Surprisingly, my mother doesn't press the issue, "Well, I guess it's time to move on. I set you up on a blind date."

"C'mon, mom why'd you do that?"

My mother disregards my question and continues, "She's a real nice girl and I'm sure she's your type."

I want to ask my mom, "What is my type?", but I rather not, but I say, "Tell her I'm not interested."

"She already has her hopes up, Rio. Just go and have fun, there is nothing wrong with having friends. You need some compani-."

I sigh, "Mom, I understand you're trying to help, but don't,"

"I'm not canceling and don't you stand that her up. The poor girl will take it hard."

I should stand her up for you trying to control my love life.

"Rio? Don't you ignore me. Go and have a good time. She loves cheesecake."

Like that's going to get me to go.