Marine On A Mission

No Sleep

  Dominic awoke to hearing a few sounds next door. He got up to investigate. He walked in and saw Jessica running around. He could tell by how she was making her way around that she was having a moment. She wasn't really there. She was searching for what he presumed to be her rifle.
"Where is it!?" She shouted. He ran up and grabbed her. She went into attack mode as he tried to restrain her.
"Jessica! You're not back there. Your home. Your not in Afghanistan," he whispered. Soon he felt her body start to go back to sleep. He picked her up and put her back in her bed. He was about to leave when he saw her DVD player was on. He went over and pressed eject. A disc labeled Afghanistan popped out. He knew he shouldn't but he couldn't help it. He put it in and turned on the TV. He hit play and watched as Jess boarded the plane for the first time. She looked so happy. As it went on she never changed. Why had she changed? He saw how close she was to the one guy Luke. She said she didn't have anyone though. He watched closely. Soon the first tour came to an end and there was a conversation between the people.
... or be like Darren and master another game,"
" At least I got a game to master. All you gotta do is figure out how to get in your girlfriend's pants,"
"If I felt the need I'd be there already,"
"Um excuse me sir but I'm right here and no. Not yet,"
She was a little spit fire. It showed that they were engaged but she didn't wear the ring anymore. Had she lost it? Then it was to the next tour. It was short. He had adknowledged the guy as Luke. Then it got to a place where you could tell they weren't supposed to be recording.
"Sam how bad is it?
"It's pretty bad. Where's Luke? We need these guys under control!"  Jessica shook her head.
"Jess?"
"They killed him,"
So the man she loved was killed. That's why she didn't speak of him. Then it went to a scene where you could tell it was from Jess's body cam. All you saw was her get shot then a few minutes later she was blown up. It showed her running then it cut to her getting stitched up on a plane. Minutes later the disc ended. Dominic almost felt like crying.
"If you're gonna cry at least let it out," Jessica spoke. He turned around.
"I thought you were asleep," he states.
"I don't sleep well. I almost never sleep. It's hard because all I see is the people's faces that I couldn't save in time," she replied.
" You had it rough. I'm sorry," he apologized while walking towards the door. Jess put her back against the wall. She had enough. All she did was sit down and started to cry. Soon Dominic walked over to her.
"Hey it's ok. There's nothing you could've done," he said. She nodded.
"I don't think they told his parents yet. They thought I did but I guess I'll have to do that tomorrow morning," she stated. She knew it was closure time.
"When you get back we'll have your birthday party," Dominic suggested. She nodded.

She was in her car sitting outside of Luke's house. She got out and walked up. She knock and a middle aged couple anwsered.
"Hi I'm Jessica. Luke's fiance," she kinda asked if they knew. They did and welcomed her in. She sat down on their couch. She was wearing her ring.
"Where is our Luke?" His dad asked.
"That's why I came here," Jessica replied. She took in a deep breathe.
"He's one of the bravest people I've ever met. Our camp was attacked. No one was ready and eight men were lost. Luke was one of them. They buried him in a graveyard near the base," Jessica explained. She had tears in her eyes but refused to cry. The couple started crying and two older kids walked in. His siblings.
"Mom?Dad?" The girl asked.
"What's wrong," the boy asked. The mom pointed to me.
"Luke is-is," she stuttered. She couldn't say it.
"Luke is dead," Jess finished for her.
"I'm so sorry,"  Jessica said before running out. She drove back to her apartment and brushed off what had happened. After all she is twenty now. She walked in and the three siblings were cutting cake. She smiled as her dull apartment was now brought to life with sparkles and streamers.
"Wow I feel five!" Jessica joked.
"Well we didn't know your cake preference so we got half and half. Enjoy and happy birthday," Aiden cheered. He had a lady with him which Jess presumed was his wife. Jessica started eating cake. Everyone was having a good time. All of the events from the past week were washed away with the joy of partying. Jessica was enjoying herself. All good things come to a end though. The boys were drinking so they had been passed out. Alex helped clean up before leaving. Jessica laughed at the sleeping guys.
"I guess y'all can stay the night," she joked. It was a long day. It had been sad and happy. She now had more friends. She notice after she got out that her stitches were healed. She was no professional but she slowly cut them then pulled them out. No more irritation from those. She climbed in bed and for the first time and what felt to be forever she smiled. She had happy thoughts and dreams. She wasn't going to rely on it but maybe in the future there was happiness. Maybe she'd have the friends and possibly the family she wanted all this time. She refused to get her hopes up though because anything could happen and she was prepared to answer the call.