Photograph (camren)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

(April 4th, 2017 06:00hrs)

Two mornings later, Camila had mail from her lieutenant. She had apologized for the lack of contact, with the date the letter was written up in the top corner, March 7th. That was nearly a month ago now, but the doctor understood the moment her eyes skimmed the last part of the letter.

Things had headed for the worse over in Syria.

The military's mailing service hadn't been able to get to base due to the amount of shootings that were taking place. It just wasn't safe for them.

Lauren had written "I'm not sure when you'll get this. Peace keeping has turned into some kind of a shit show, and we have guys on patrol at all hours now, where as before we'd keep different squads in different areas for the day. And the guys haven't been able to get their letters out for weeks at a time, same with me. So, chances are you have a few coming your way..."

She'd been right. It seemed the moment the letter from Lauren's first days in Syria had made its way to their mailbox, so did the other three. The first had indicated that things had gone bad in Syria but everyone, including Lauren and her team, were doing the best they could to protect each other. The second explained how things had started to calm down. Patrol squads were as on edge as before but there hadn't been an attack in a week or so. That one was dated for March 23rd. And in the third and final letter of the swarm, Lauren had told Camila that there was word that there be a chemical attack on a Syrian base.

They hadn't discovered if the threat was real yet. But the lieutenant told her lover not to worry. Lauren told Camila how much she loved her in more words than ever before. Promising her that when she came home, it'd be for longer than two days and they'd go to a cheesy movie Camila wanted to see after a dinner at her favourite restaurant. 'Like a date.' And despite her impending fear, the doctor focused on the words 'I love you' and 'like a date' rather than let her head spin with the idea of someone attacking the place Lauren was in.

Biting her nails, she took a seat on the couch and turned the TV on. The last time Shawn had been over to help her study for finals, he had the news on. Something about keeping up with what the turnip that ran the country was up to, so he'd have something to talk with Leo about on their date that night. Either way, it hadn't been that big of a deal. Camila's interest in politics had only sparked when she heard the turnip was planning to build a wall between her current country and one she had lived in until she was six yeas old.

That had seemed like her worst nightmare then.

However, the moment the TV clicked on, it was there. In big bold letters.

Lauren's crew had been right.

"During the early hours of this morning, there was a chemical attack launched on Syria. The body count is now up to one hundred including many innocent children and parents caught in the crossfire." Camila's mug dropped from her hand, breaking the moment it hit the hardwood flooring. "The total amount of injuries is still unknown, there have been many family's as well as members of our US Marines reported missing that could've possibly been caught up in the blast. We're speechless, left with only two questions: who did this and why? We have Major Nickson of the U.S Marines here. Hello Major, thank you for being with us this morning. How are you all over there?" The major's voice came on, muffled by the screams of injured children as well as their parents, through what Camila figured to be a radio. With video footage of the current state of Syria and it's people.

"Well John, we're doing our best to take initiative and help those in need. Especially those that can still be saved. We have guys out in every area looking for who could've possibly done this. However, it seems we have a few of our own missing ourselves. We have yet to confirm whom it may be. But the moment we find out, families will be notified. Thank you."