Heavy Metal Bruises | m.s

ONE

NOVEMBER 10, 2012
THE 'BIRTHDAY' OF THE MARINE CORPS

A hard pill to swallow:

"That is confirmed. Three K.IA. Repeat. Three K.I.A."

The sound was atrocious. The screams and cries, coming from places unknown but all meant the same thing.

Death.

I'm a killer. My nickname back on base was 'Body Bag'. My kill rate was the highest and everyone knew it.

I had come out to the field with my best friend, Johnny Eihnhouse. We had been inseparable since grade school and we decided to enlist together.

"You got a smoke?" He asked me.

I chuckled. "You know damn well I do." I handed him a cigarette.

He took it from me, lighting it up in his smoke. It wobbled as he talked. "I thought you were quitting."

"I'll quit when you do."

"The day I quit smoking is the day I die, my friend." He patted my shoulder and sighed. He looked at the ground. "If anything happens today-"

"Shut it, Johnny." I cut him off.

"No, listen." He pleaded. "If anything happens today, I just wanted to thank you for being there for me my whole life."

I looked at him honestly. "You know I'd do anything for you anytime you need."

"I know." He nodded. "Anything, anytime."

"I have an idea." I snatched the cigarette out of his mouth.

"Hey!" He whined. "What was that for?"

"Since you're so worried, you can have this back at the end of today." I waved the cigarette in front of his face and put it in my pocket.

"You gotta a deal, Jones."

Suddenly, small arms fire broke out. We both bolted and went for cover. I could see Johnny running into the distance away from me.

As I huddled behind the door of the HUM-V, I feared the worst.

I had gotten separated from him and pinned down behind the vehicle. Every so often I would keep and eye out for Johnny after every shot I would take.

I felt empty fighting alone.

"Jones!" I heard a voice scream.