The Dark Days

The New Days

As I came downstairs everyone I cared about was there, well everyone that was alive anyway...

My Aunt Lane, Ashy, and even Jason were all sitting on the couch together.  There were dozens of presents around the tree and tons of Christmas treats on the table to dig in to. 

I came down the stairs crying as they all ran up to be and hugged me. 

That day was one of the best days of my life, we talked and ate all day.  Ashy brought me a necklace with my name on it.  Jason hand made me a bracelet with our names scratched In old leather from his boots.  Bellow our names read best friends forever. That was my favorite gift...

Then the night wore on, and it was time to say goodbye.  after my aunt left it was time to say goodbye to Jason.  I was alone with him outside when he broke the news to me.  "Jade, I have something important to tell you... and I want you to remember that I will always love you... I'm going to fight in the war in Iraq."  "Your kidding right?"  "No, i'm not.  I need to get away from all this, you have broke my heart to many times, I will always love you. " "Goodbye."

Goodbye, I have heard those words before, sometimes I wasn't even able to say them in time.  As he walked away I started to go after him, but he had ran to his car and sped away."  

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I ran inside crying my eyes out, as I ran upstairs I heard Ashy come up behind me.  "Jade, whats wrong?  Are you OK?"  "Jason, he left for the war..."  Then I heard him sigh and he walked out of the room.  When he came back he had his phone in his hand, "You know after the attack yesterday in New York they declared an official war.. they are recruiting soldiers.  Then he pulled out a slip of paper, I didn't want to do this now.. but I'm going to.  

After that I couldn't stand it. "You can't both be leaving me.. what am I supposed to do?  I turn eighteen in March.. I still have two months!"  "That's why your living with your aunt..."   "No, i'm not going to California.. I will go train with Haunter back in Washington."

Its now been two weeks, today I waved goodbye to the only people that I loved that were still alive.  I'm currently on a plane to Washington thinking about how my life changed so much in one day.  I am going to spend the last months remaining of my human life training to be strong when I change.

Today when I arrived I first went to see my mothers grave, neglected for the past couple months, I decided to pick some wild flowers for her...

Then I put my bags in Ashy's old hideout underground.  I could only pray that both Ashy and Jason would come back OK. 

As the days passed, I got so much stronger.  I could do a hundred push-ups with no problem, and much more.  I wanted to do more though... I wanted to turn early so I could feel the power.  Haunter wouldn't let me though, with the rough shape I was in.  So, I turned to something else... drugs.  Lots of them.. marijuana, cocaine, heroine, you name it I tried it.  All in a month.  The money I had from Ashy slowly diminished.  So, I got a part time job just to cover my drug costs.  So, I was sober for two hours a day at the Grocery Mart.  As soon as I got home though I was as high as a cloud.

I had started missing practice and then I just stopped doing anything in general.  After a month of being high, February reminded me of what I still had in life.  I had received a letter in the mail from Jason.

Dear Jade,

                      I'm sorry I couldn't send one sooner but it is pretty bad over here, I don't know anyone here but I found another like me.  I am doing OK, but I miss you.  Send me a letter if you ever get a chance.  I keep the picture of us in my pocket.  I love you Jade, see you soon. -Jason