The warrior of protection

The story of Sydney Perez

When I had finished my Breakfast I heard a knock at the door. I got up and opened the door. I was surprised to see Ella at the door. "When they say 'respect your elders' does that mean nothing to you". She says leaning in the doorway. "I do respect my elders, but not if they don't respect me first" I begin. I walk over to the desk and sit down. She walks in and closes the door behind her. "I didn't know you don't have parents" she said standing there awkwardly. "They sold me and my brother to a foster home when I was almost 4 years old for there career". She has a kind of hidden surprised expression. Like she doesn't want to show her emotions. "I don't know what happened to them, and I honestly don't care. But I've been fine on my own for 4 years" I say emotionless. If she is hiding her emotions I'm hiding mine as well. "How do you say that so calm, When I talk about my dad I lose my shit" She asks, actual curiosity in her voice. "I don't worry about people who left me for their own greed". That's only half the truth. I've been taught well about how to hide emotions. showing emotion shows weakness when your in the army. They don't like weakness in the army. But I wouldn't tell her that. "But what happened to your brother, he is obviously older shouldn't he have been looking out for you". She said this as she looked me in the eyes for the first time. I learned her eyes are brown. "He did, as soon as he turned 18 he adopted me from the foster home. He was a great older brother". I take a deep breath before continuing. "But sadly, He died when I was 14".  She looks down. "That sucks, but I know how you must feel". I didn't understand. Was she feeling empathy, remorse, or maybe someone to relate to. "What is it you understand". She looks up. "After you're brother died, you felt like the only person who was ever there for you just disappeared, and that you're now walking alone". For the first time in a long time, I showed emotion. Shock lingered on my face. What she said was deeper than a bottomless pit. It actually made me look back at what I've been feeling since Luke's death and it was exactly that. "I know cause that's what I felt when my mom died". I didn't know there was a single person on this earth who understood the pain I feel, or the thoughts that run through my mind. "I guess we have something in common" I say keeping the conversation going. I usually don't like talking to people. But it's been a while since I found someone I can actually talk to. "Maybe there is more" she says as she goes to sit on my bed. "Tell me more about yourself". She crossed her arms and waited with a smirk on her face. "Like what" I ask. "Hmmm" she thinks. "When's your birthday". My birthday. I had honestly forgot about my own birthday the last time I actually celebrated was when I turned 14. Luke would never forget. "I turned 18 yesterday actually". Her eyes light up. "Happy birthday" She says. "Thanks". "Mental note Syds birthday is February 14th". "Syd?" I ask. "Yea its the nickname I gave you" she smiles. "And since we're friends you can call me El". I smile back to her. "Wait what about you". I ask. "Huh?" She looks visibly confused. "I told you all about my past, tell me about yours". Her smile fades a bit but is clearly still visible. "Well..."