Strike force - Assemble

Chapter 8

Nothing would ease the pain Amanda felt on the way home. "But was it really home without Damian?" Amanda asked herself, not realising she said it out loud.

"No, it isn't. It never will be." Karen said. Amanda looked at her through bloodshot eyes. It was raining, and the entire lifeboat was miserable. They had lost a leader, and it had cost some people dearly. Amanda didn't even realise that everyone was miserable, she was too deep in her own grief. She had never felt pain like what she felt now. Not even when her older brother died in war. She had barely known her older brother, but it was still tragic. Damian was her first boyfriend, and she clung to the fine hope that Damian was still alive like a child clings to candy. "Charleston will never be the same without Damian." Karen said.

Amanda nodded in a silent testimony for Damian. How could he do this to her?

"Why Karen, why did he do this?" Amanda asked, voicing her thoughts.

"He did it because he loved you." Karen pulled Amanda into a hug, and everyone else on the boat looked on with eyes full of sympathy.

"He is an idiot!" Amanda cried. "A stupid person!"

"You don't mean it Amanda." Karen consoled her. "He was an amazing person. You said it yourself."

"You heard that?" Amanda asked, remembering their last conversation together. It felt like a lifetime ago.

"I did. What would he think if he was here? If he saw you like this? What would he want you to do?" Karen asked.

"He would want me to live my life in his honour." Amanda replied, wiping her eyes.

"Then do that. Live your life the way Damian would want you to." Karen said.

"Thanks so much." Amanda said. She hugged Karen and Karen hugged her back.

"Your welcome." Karen replied.

Amanda got home about 2 days later.

She put on a fake smile and walked into her home. Her mum answered the door.

"Amanda, how was it?" Her mum asked, giving her a hug. All the memories Amanda had tried to shove away came back in a tidal wave, and Amanda started to cry. "What's wrong?" Her mum asked.

"Damian." Amanda squeaked.

"Did you two break up?" Her mum asked. She knew how much Amanda loved Damian.

"No. He..." Amanda trailed off, unwilling to say it.

"He died?" Amanda nodded and cried again.

"He gave his life for me. Why? Why would he do that?" Amanda wailed, even though her mum was right there.

"He did it because he loved you. He couldn't bear to see you hurt when he could do something to help you." Her mum said. Inwardly, she sighed in relief. Damian had in fact loved her daughter. Amanda's dad came out after hearing all the crying.

"What's wrong?" He asked. Amanda's mum waved him off.

Amanda's mum led her inside, and sat her in the lounge before sitting next to her.

"It's hard, isn't it?" Amanda's mum asked. Amanda nodded.

"How do I fix it?" Amanda asked.

"You don't. The only way to fix it is to forget him, and that often times is worse than keeping the grief. I still grieve over your older brother." Amanda's mum replied. Amanda saw the sense in those words of wisdom, and she hugged her mum.

"I'm just going to go to my room." Amanda said.

"Remember what I told you." Amanda's mum called as Amanda walked upstairs.

"I will." Amanda called back. She walked into her room and sank into her comfy bed. She pulled out her phone to talk to her friends and she had a ton of texts. She spent the next half an hour catching up with her friends before Stacey texted her.

Stacey: I heard you are back!

Amanda: Yeah, got back an hour ago.

Stacey: How was it?

Amanda: Heartbreaking.

Stacey: Why was it so bad?

There was a long pause before Amanda replied.

Amanda: Damian is the reason.

Stacey: OMG, what did he do?

Amanda: I shouldn't be the one to tell you.

Stacey: Just tell me.

Amanda: No! I will come over and tell you and your mum.

Stacey: Fine. Just let me tell her you are coming.

Amanda put down her phone and went out after telling her mum she was going to Stacey's house. It felt extremely weird to call it that, it had always been referred to as Damian's house. She made the short walk to the King's place before ringing the doorbell.