Last To Know *COMPLETED*

Last To Know Chapter 11

Chapter 11-

I opened my eyes to see my pal Ronnie, smiling at me and cursing me, saying to get my ass out of bed. It was 5:30 a.m. I seriously groaned, knowing this day in Iraq was going to be different.

How would I know that?

Because this was the day I was struck and placed in a coma. I was reliving it strangely in this dream. I wanted so much to wake up, but I couldn't. I was trapped.

I finally punched him on the arm, all geared up now, ready for a regular day of practicing. I sighed.

"What's wrong, man?" Ronnie chided. "Missing your girl?" He laughed wildly. He always knew when to joke.

"Yea." I said. Ronnie and my other friends always made fun of me for being so caught up in Jill. I would constantly worry about her, how stupid, I thought.

About an hour later, we were practicing with the hand grenades, just boring old routines that we did every day. We never got any real action here anymore.

Of course, I knew it was coming. I looked up and saw the planes, flying over head, and I froze. I was not alone in that action, because just about every soldier in the whole damn camp was frozen solid. Just like me.

Every thing was in slow motion now. The bomb hit the ground, and shrapnel covered every line of my vision. And then I blacked out.

I woke up again, panting. That was the last memory of the war. Ronnie was dead, my pal Zach was dead too. I began to cry for both of them.

Jill came into sight. And obviously, my breathing calmed, slowed. She looked concerned, as she should be. I think I screamed when I woke up.

"What's wrong?" She finally said. I stared at her, not wanting to tell her for fear of scaring her.

"I remember now. I remember what happened." I said, and smiled to make sure she knew I was okay.

"It's okay. I know it's hard. Even if that hadn't happened, I'm sure you'd still be kind of freaked out." She said, confidently.

"Yea, I guess. We're leaving for Charlotte tomorrow, right?"

"Yea, well actually today. It's six o clock."

After I had showered and dressed, I had to say goodbye to my aunt and uncle. I was so glad that he was okay now, after that heart attack almost a year and a half ago. I was honestly surprised he hadn't had another one.

I couldn't say I was surprised that my aunt was crying.

"I'm only going to be one for a couple of days, to load up my stuff." I laughed, knowing this couldn't really be happening.

"I know hon. But then you're moving away for good. I'm going to miss you so much."

I smiled, not knowing what to say. I gave her a big hug and sighed. I hugged my uncle Jim lightly, knowing he was often in pain. "Bye, boy." He said, smiling slightly. My uncle rarely smiled.

And after that, Jill and I headed out and loaded my things in her car.

Jill smiled at me as soon as we were in the car. She kissed me, and then smiled again. I was caught off guard. "Sorry."

"For..?"

"Sorry I couldn't kiss you back. I was... distracted."

"By what?"

I didn't answer, but I was pretty sure she knew.

We were quiet most of the way to the airport, which was strange for Jill. I figured she was thinking about something, so I didn't bother her.

We finally boarded the plane, and I couldn't help but think about how my brother was doing. I was hoping Jill could meet him.

I know. This is all pointless crap, right? Wrong. James, you must see that I'm serious about this wrong thing that I did. I'm deadly serious, if you haven't already noticed.

I'm hoping you won't take it lightly either. I took things too light, and look where I ended up? I thought the life I had with Jill Brewer was meant to be. So I took it for granted. I never proposed. It had never occurred to me. But I'm sure we would have divorced anyway after I'd killed her loving brother.

I thought that life was for me.

I thought I could float through and not care.

Boy, was I off.