The Red Coral Bracelet

Chapter 1

"Don't take it off. It's to keep you safe so you can come back." I told Luke, making sure that the bracelet was tight enough to stay on his wrist.

"I won't take it off." He replied, lifting my face up so I was looking in his blue eyes. "And I will come back, alive. I want  to play with my nephew."

With that, I nodded and wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him close. I didn't want to let him go, I didn't want him so far away that I can't hug him everyday, but I knew that he had to. I understood that. Everyone did. Because almost everyone in my family is a Marine.

My oldest sister, June, is a Marine. Luke, my father, my uncle, my aunt, the rest of my siblngs. All Marines. Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of all of them, but I would love to just have one holiday or birthday where everyone is at home, sitting in the living room, laughing loudly at something I said.

"When I get back, I'm going to get you a bracelet just like mine. So no matter what, we will always be together." Luke whispered in my ear, making two tears slide out of my eyes. "Navy, I'll be home soon. I love you."

With that, he let me go and walked away. The only time he looked back was when he was climbing on, to wave at me and Mom. Once he was gone, she collasped into sobs. Everytime one of her babies got onto one of those planes, she balled her eyes out. At first I thought, wouldn't she be used to it by now? Then I realized, it's still really hard to watch someone that you will always love get on the plane even after you've seen it more than five times.

I hugged my mom and watched as it climbed higher and higher into the air. I waved one last time then took Mom home. She would have Dad to cry on for the next two days. I had no one. I lived by myself in a little apartment, filled with photographs that I had taken over the years of my life.  It was lonely at times, but usually someone was always there. Mainly my best friend, Beth.

She wasn't there. She was probably out with her boyfriend, again. Those two are inseperable; they had been going out since the fifth grade. It really was amazing to know that they had never cheated, never broke up, and never wanted anyone else, but their partner. Drew, my adopted second best friend, was still waiting for the perfect moment to pop the question to her. He was going to do it on graduation, but he chickened out or forgot the ring. Something like that.

I ordered Chinese, sat down on the black sofa, and turned on the TV. Nothing was on that was really interesting, so I put Sports Center on. It was just background noise. I paid the deliveryman then sat back down on the sofa to eat. I never tasted it; my mind was elsewhere, not on food or the newscaster telling me about the Notre Dame-Navy game.

My mind was on Luke, June, Andy, Forrest, and May. All of my siblings were older than me, in the USMC, and overseas. My head was racing with horrible thoughts so I decided to write each of them a letter and send a care package. Just as I began to write the first letter, which was going to be sent to June, my Iphone started to sing 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame'.

"Navy, how are you?" My father's best friend, General Daniel Decker, asked me.

"I'm holding up. Eating Chinese and watching Sports Center."

"I heard about Luke. Your father just called me to tell me that he got deployed today and that he was being sent to my base." That sentence made me smile. II knew that Danny would watch over Luke and make sure that nothing bad would happen. "I miss you, Navy."

"It's still weird that nine Marines have the word Navy tattooed on them." Navy isn't my real name. It's a nickname that I got when I was three. I loved the water, so Uncle Chris asked what I wanted to do in life. My reply was, 'Navy'. I was three. Leave me alone.

"When my men ask about it, I tell them that I love my Navy. They never ask anything after that." His hearty laugh came through the phone. For being a general, he is pretty laid back. "Listen, Navy, you're still a photographer right?" I was slightly confused, but answered.

"Yes, sir. I'm still a photographer. May I ask why, sir?" Some habits are hard to break, others are impossible. Calling people ma'am and sir is one of them.

"Good," was his reply then a silence stretched on for what seemed like forever, but was probably only about a minute or two. "I would like you to fly over to my base and take pictures of the men and women here. They love to have fun and people over there," he said, referring to the United States of America. "Need to know that. You are the person for the job and I would to see you again. Will you do it?"

"Yes, sir. I will be there soon." I replied instantly. I needed to get away from the small apartment I called home, my parents constant fussing over me because I'm the only child not in the Marines, and my lack of a job. Going over to Afghanistan would take me away from all of that and maybe I would get a glimpse of my siblings.

"Alright, Navy. Just be prepared for rude remarks from them."

I scoffed. "Have you met my family?"