Army Strong

Chapter Two

Army Strong

Chapter Two

Hobbling out into the main part of the airport was a bitch. I found my parents being the first ones standing in the front of the crowd. My mom looked the same just a little older than I remembered. My father looked like his old self with a round pot belly and small glasses that were pushed against his nose. He still had his rounded cheeks and grey hair pushed back and out of his face. My mom still wore her jeans and a red turtle neck. Her hair was pulled back into a braid and her eyes bright green. She wore a large smile on her face showing her perfect teeth and red ruby lips.

I was lucky to get both of my parents looks. I got my moms dark brown hair and my dads dark blue eyes. My figure was fair 5'7, with size 16 hips, and an ass that could kill someone. My chest was also fair, not to big and not to small. My thighs were thunder thighs and didn't have a gap between them. I am a fair woman but held a little more than most. I lift about 150 to 175 and can run twenty miles in the deserted heat. I can go without food for four days straight as long as I have water. I am an army woman. That's all I can say about myself.

"Oh my baby!" my mother yelled in her thick Jersey accent.

She took my shoulders and looked at me from head to toe. She hadn't seen me in more than a year so I am a little different in her eyes.

She hugged me hard with tears escaping her eyes. I looked at my father and rolled my eyes with a smile. He smirked and winked at me while placing a warm hand on Ma's back.

"Hey Ma," I said kissing her cheeks.

"I missed you so much sweetheart," she said while pulling away and letting father hug me.

He smelled like stale cigars which I still loved about him. His pot belly made me a tad bit off balance as I hugged him hard. He was always a calm collected man which I admired.

"How you doing Pops?" I whispered as he kissed my cheeks and whispered a, "Great, now that you're here."

We made our way to the exit with mom blabbering on about the neighborhood drama. Pops took my suitcase with a lazy smile on his face as he looked around the airport at everyone.

"I missed you guys so much," I said as we exited into the cold Colorado weather.

Pops was waiting for the car engine to warm up before we drove home. Mom made me take the passenger seat while Pops drove with her behind me.

"Why didn't you come home earlier?" Ma asked behind me.

I looked out the window so they couldn't see my face. Tears were starting to form as I looked at my reflection.

"I thought you would be disappointed in me as I am with myself," I said lowly.

"What?" Ma breathed in a harsh breath. "How could you think that?"

I shook my head with a few tears escaping. I turned to them both heartbroken.

"Because of this," I pointed to my leg. "And because I am now just a piece of shit who used to be part of the United States Army. I used to save people's lives but now I can barely walk right. I should be out in Afghanistan covering my peoples asses while we do missions. How am I helpful here in Denver fucking Colorado?"

I wiped away my tears and shook my head. My parents stayed quiet as I let out what has been eating away at me from the inside out for months. I have finally told them how I think of myself, because all I am is a failure.

"I'm not. I'm not helpful what so ever. I am just a girl who has the Congressional Metal of Honor and a Purple Heart for saving 258 lives. But they didn't say how many died. 188 people died because I couldn't save them. 188 men and women that couldn't go home to their families because their gone and I am still alive. I am such a fucking waste. A pathetic accuse of a United States soldier," I shook my head in disgust and sniffed the remaining mucus that was still in my nose.