Aquion

Aquion chapter 2

My head started to go crazy with all of the memories of my father. My last moment with him came to mind. I could remember the way he smiled at me and patted my head, the way he ruffled my brother’s hair.

“Kiddos, I’ll be back in a couple of days, you two know the rules. Don’t try to bite each other, and do not go near the edges of the glass. We don’t want a recap of that puffer fish incident, right? Aaron?” he l smiled at my brother and shook a finger.

 Aaron looked downwards, “No daddy. When you come back can you teach me how to fight?” he now looked up and tilted his head a bit. “I want to be able to protect sis’ and mama.” Aaron looked up at my father with determined eyes, his chest puffed out and fist clenched. “I won’t be scared of puffer fishes anymore.”

 My father high fived my brother, “Alright kiddo. Take care of your sister and mom for me ok?” and stepped down the steps of our porch. “Good-bye honey.” He said in a honey-coated voice for mom, with that embarrassing wiggling of the eyebrows. Oh, his cheesiness was one personality trait of his that stayed embedded into my mind.  He then told us he loved us and turned his back to walk away.  He had his oxygen tank on his shoulder and his under water breathing mask in his hand.

 The next morning we heard a knock on the door, my mom answered, while Aaron and I continued to eat. I remember seeing her fall to her knees, covering her face with her hands. I ran to my mother and screamed, pleading for her to explain her tears. The man at the door looked at me with pity and said, “I’m sorry for your loss. We didn’t find a body, but we found his jacket.” He then handed me my father’s jacket and I took it slowly. It was slightly wet from being out in water, and I rubbed my finger over my dad’s name on the jacket. He always lost his jacket, so mother decided to embroider his name on it. John Cail, the same name embroidered on his jacket was now on his death certificate.

 From that day onward I became the strongest in the family, I helped out in the store and did errands to earn a bit of extra money. I told Aaron to focus and study so he could join the Marine Corps, (we all knew that he couldn’t be a real soldier) as a medic of the team. When I had free time I joined the little boys next while they were practicing ‘one-on-one combat’ with their father. Oooh, how I wanted to be part of the Marine Corps, so that I could protect what was left of my family, and I was rejected entry. Females are not allowed to join the Marine Corps. Why, one may ask. It was all due to simple sexism, as generations went by things have gotten better. Yet no one made a move to change the law, showing how we have yet to move one step ahead from the past. So after I received rejection I lived everyday, boring and uneventful. How I wished my life had remained like that.

 As I faded back into reality, I could feel someone’s touch on my shoulders. It was with a firm grip that I was shaken with, back and forth.  When I opened my eyes, a blur came through, light shone extremely bright and I squinted to look at who was in front of me. For an unknown reason I felt as if I saw my dad in front of me, smiling down at me with an immense kindness, the same kindness and love I felt as a child. 

 After the light faded, I was able to see clearly again. In front of me was Ethan, who kept shaking me. His mouth kept moving, his eyes frantic and all I did in response was blink. I blinked and blinked some more, this cause Ethan to stop shaking me. He looked into my eyes searching my face for emotions.  Then slowly I regained my memories. My brother was MIA (missing in action), just like my dad.

 “You’re back. You… you wouldn’t move and you didn’t respond when we were talking to you. Your eyes were blank… oh god.” He wrapped his arms around me, engulfing me in a warming hug.  I loved how warm he was, but I wanted to know where mom was.

 “Mom? Where is she?” Not wanting to but out of need I pulled out of his hug. I looked around and noticed my mother’s presence was nowhere to be seen.

 “Lynn, your mother fainted,” he waved his hands,  “but don’t worry the medics are checking on her now upstairs. I hadn’t noticed you were in this state until I came back from carrying your mom to her room.” He put a hand on my shoulder. “I know this is shocking news. When I heard, I asked for permission to deliver the news myself. I know you would want someone you know telling you, instead of the normal messenger.” He grabbed my shoulders and led me inside, away from the door. I pulled a chair out and sat down, running my hands through my hair, then all over my face.

 “Do you want tea? Or uh… where does your mom keep the cups? I think it was in this cupboar-“ he began to open the cupboard when I interrupted.

 “Did they even try to look for him?” I looked up at him and he stopped his babbling.

“They said that they were being over whelmed and decided to retreat. When they found a place to count heads they found out your brother, and a few others, were missing.” He closed the half open cupboard.

 “That didn’t answer my question.” I glared at him, my hatred being expressed through my eyes. Why was I looking at him this way? It wasn’t his fault that my brother was missing. He rubbed his temple and breathed out.

 “No they didn’t look for him. There were to many Aquians around the vicinity to even think of going back.”

 I shot up from my chair and headed for the door. Ethan ran over to me pulling me to a stop.

 “Where are you going? You cant just up and leave, your mom needs you.” He looked tired, funny how a couple of minutes of stress can dry you completely of energy.  Anger other hand, gave you energy and boy I was filled to the max with both.

 “My brother needs me too.” I opened the door roughly and stepped outside. I know my mom needed me but I would return as quickly as possible. Besides I know that my mom would want me to go and convince them to look for my brother.  I was about to start into a run when someone grabbed my wrist.

 “Lynn wait.” I looked up into Ethan’s eyes and they were full of worry and commitment.

 “You aren’t going to stop me Ethan, you know how much Aaron—“ I was cut off by him pulling my wrist making me fall into him.

 “I know. Remember? You would come everyday when my dad made my do training. You would say ,‘ I won’t let anyone else in my family get hurt.’” He brushed a lock of hair away from my face, “I can’t stand seeing you cry so please don’t. I’m going with you and I’ll call my mom to come and stay with yours.” Then he wiped way the tears that started to fall down my face without me noticing. 

 “Thank you, but we have to hurry.” I pulled away from him. “I’ll stop crying so let’s go.” I turned and started running.

 I ran as fast as I could to the Military base. Sweat was already pouring down my face. My ponytail was falling out and my morning slippers were dirty.  I turn and see Ethan almost catching up and for some reason I felt as if I had to out run him. The base was another 3 minutes away if I kept up the pace. Then suddenly Ethan was running along side me. I willed myself to run faster and I picked up my pace. I outran him and kept going, I needed to get to the base. When I finally reached the base I stood in front of the doors. My breath kept coming out forcefully, my legs hurting and trembling. The ponytail I had tied in the morning had fallen out and my hair was in front of my face. I rest my hands on my knees. Ethan arrived and also caught his breath. I brushed my hair back with my hands and took a final breath. I looked at Ethan and then at the doors. I grabbed both handles and opened the doors widely.

 “Let’s go find those bastards who didn’t bother looking for my brother.” I stepped in. Determined and dead set to put up a fight.