Kissed by a Bullet

Chapter 50 ~ Where to end?

Song of chapter: Rise up by JoJo

4 years later

20 guys in one truck and every single one of them had someone to go home too.

I stared aimlessly at the ground holding my gun on my lap pointing it to the floor.

Four years I've been in war, four years I've followed my father's footsteps, and four years I haven't seen the girl that I promised myself that I would marry.

Melanie Elise white or better know in my mind, Melanie Elise McQueen.

It sounds perfect even though, I know she will fight me on it. Like she does on everything but for what it's worth, I'll gladly take that fight with her.

Small smile takes over my face.

Melanie and I have been writing letters since the day I was leaving for the army. Even though we aren't together, every guy on the base would slap my back and say how whooped I was., or say that I'm teenage girl that just had her first kiss.

If they only knew who Melanie was, they would be in the same deep shit I am in.

When she came with me to the airport to watch me fly off. She was trying her hardest not to cry and I was too. I remember that day vividly, she gave me a hug and then slapped me. Telling me if I didn't come back, she was going to knock on heaven's door and slap me harder. I just smiled at her because I knew I was coming back, I didn't know when but I was coming back.

I reach up to my pocket and take out a picture that I've carried everyday since I've been here. I unfolded it and stared at it.

It was picture that Melanie and I took all that time ago. She was smiling and her hair was down-for once because I broke that damn ponytail-I just looked at her. Little did she know I took that picture because I wanted to show my grandfather the girl I wanted.

"Brotha, I'm surprised that picture is still together, you look at it everyday." Shawn tells me and I look at him with a smile.

Shawn, we met the first day at boot camp. He is a year older and we have been friends through this whole journey. He married his high school sweetheart before coming here and then he found out two months later he was having a baby. He got to see his daughter about six times and it bothered him. He gets to Skype them like I do with my mom and Melanie once in a while.

But he was hell bent on being back home permanently this time.

"What can I say she gets me going." I say running my thumb over her face. The picture was overly worn out, it was okay as long as I can still see her face.

"You really do love her don't you?" Shawn asks me and I look at him and then back at the picture.

"You have no idea." I say and fold the picture back into my pocket. Sitting up and holding my gun firmer than I was before hand. Looking at all the guys in this truck every single one of us just wanted to get back to the base. That meant no one dies today even though we know we could get ambushed there too.

"You haven't gone home once since you've been here, and you always look at that damn picture. Why don't you go home to her?" Shawn asks and I stare at the ground.

"Because when I go after her, I won't be able to come back. So when I go home to her I'm going to stay." I say and look at Shawn and he gives me look of I'm a stupid ass.

Shawn's brown eyes gives me glare and sighs. "What about you go home to her, your enrollment is up next week, make this your retirement. It's been four years, you are killing yourself by looking at that picture. What happens if she found someone else? You won't ever forgive yourself."