The Soldier that Saved Me (ON HOLD)

The Journey

   "I respect every soldier, from every country, who serves beside us in the hard work of history. America is grateful, and America will not forget." -George W. Bush

~~~~~~~~~~~

 I opened my eyes. 

    Lying under a canopy of bare branches and a bright blue sky, the sunlight hit my eyes. It was a rather peaceful scene compared to the explosions from the second bombing soon after we left. 

    We had walked 15 miles away from the camp last night before we decided to find tree and hit the sack. Luckily for me, Phaz brought 2 blankets. I would have been freezing otherwise because this wasn't a fully prepared trip.

    "Okay slowpoke, let's get going." Phaz's voice sounded through the field. It was freezing at night, and then 50° during the day.  That was Missouri for you.

Suddenly my stomach growled loudly. 

"But wait! What about breakfast?" I asked anxiously. Sure, I wanted to get out of here quickly but hey, my body needs fuel. 

"Breakfast? We're trying to escape enemy bombs and all you're thinking about is your stomach?"

"Well, yeah." I responded, matter-of-factly. 

"Not on this trip, darling. You're gonna have to man up and wait because we don't have that big of a food supply.  Maybe we'll find some run down restaurant or something and fill up there."

Great. Just great. I'm running from bombs, trying to keep myself alive, and worst of all not having any food for the next couple of hours.

"Don't get too upset, princess. There are kids in Africa dying because of starvation. We're blessed to have eaten only yesterday for free. You can handle some time. Be patient. Isaiah 40:31 says , 'But those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength.'"

I pouted and started to follow him out of the embankment in which we camped in. I'm stuck with a guy who calls me a spoiled little girl and who talks about this religious stuff. 

We walked for some time through the grassy fields, stepping over dead prairie chickens and other squirmy creatures. I focused on following Phaz's boots, tramping the grass down to make a path for me. 

Suddenly they stopped and I crashed into him. His arm swooped out and caught me on my back. We stayed in that awkward position until he asked quietly, "You okay?" 

"I, uh. Y-yeah I'm fine. Sorry." I muttered, feeling a warmth crawl up my cheeks. I quickly stood up. There was no possibly way I would ever let Phaz see me blush. He would totally laugh at me. 

"Let's eat. Here." He handed me an energy bar. I tore off the wrapper and started to gobble it down.

"Woah slow down. You need to save it for the next three hours." 

I choked on the bar and looked at him. "Three hours?! This is too much! I can't do it!"

"Well we need to get you somewhere safe, Princess, and the only way we can do that is only if you do what I say!" He argued.

"Ugh! For the love of everything, stop calling me Princess!"

"I call you Princess because you're so caught up in the luxuries of life that you don't seem to notice that there are times where you need to give those up!"

I stood up, my blood boiling. "I am NOT a spoiled girl and don't think you can boss me around so that you can--"

Suddenly a moan sounded through the valley. My eyes widened and I looked around, seeing if there was anything that could make that noise. All I saw was grass and burned and dead chickens. Nothing else.