He Was Mine, I Was His

Count Your Blessings

    I quickly sat back down, "Charlie? Are you there?"

    He didn't move. I frowned and cursed under my breath. Then his eyes started to flutter open. I sat up, grasping his hand. I couldn't believe it. 

    "Marilyn?" He groaned. His voice was nearly incoherent. He started to look around. "Where are we?"

    "The hospital in Tulsa," I replied.

    He looked down at himself, "What happened?"

    I was confused, "There was an explosion at your base in Vietnam. Don't you remember?" He just shook his head and frowned. "That's okay. I'll go get the nurse for you."

    I got up and walked out. I couldn't help but ask myself why he didn't remember. What else did he forget? I found his nurse and told her what happened. She raced back to the room with me. 

    "Well hi there Charlie. Nice of you to join us," she joked. He just sat there confused. "My name is Jackie. Elizabeth and I have been taking care of you. Can you do me a favor and tell me the last thing you remember doing?"

    "Um, playing cards with some buddies I think. Marilyn said there was an explosion. Do you know if they're okay?" He asked, starting to get worried. 

    "I can check in with your sergeant but for now I want to run some tests, okay? I just need you to stay relaxed."

    Charlie nodded. I stood in the corner. The nurse waved a small flashlight in front of his eyes and he was able to follow it. Then she snapped her fingers by his ear. He slightly flinched the first time but when she snapped her fingers by his other ear, he didn't do anything. She did it again and still nothing. 

    "Can you hear that?" She asked, snapping once more. 

    "Hear what?" He asked. She nodded and wrote something down on her paper. "Why can't I hear it?"

    "This is seen quite often after people experience loud explosions like you did," Jackie explained. "Sometimes you might lose hearing in an ear or both. It could come back in the future but until then, we can get you a hearing aid to help you out."

    Charlie sank back into his pillow, "A hearing aid? They won't let me back into the Marines if I can't hear."

    I scoffed. Of course he would want to get right back to the thing that nearly killed him. 

    "We can worry about that once you heal. Let's do just a few more tests."

    Charlie seemed to pass the rest of his tests. Jackie said that he would need to stay for another week or two to watch for seizures and to track his healing. When she left, Charlie was upset. I went over and sat by him. On the other side this time. I couldn't believe that for the past week, I had been talking to him and he could barely hear me. 

    "You're going to be okay Charlie," I said, taking his hand again. 

    He shook his head, "I can't remember. I can't hear. I don't even know what day it is. I won't be able to go back. How is it going to be okay?"

    "Well first off, you're alive," I replied. Then I pointed to the Christmas decorations in the hallway. "Second, Merry Christmas."

    "It's Christmas?" He asked, his eyes watering. I nodded, trying to smile. "Merry Christmas to you too."

    I sat with him and we talked. I tried to answer any questions he had but sometimes I just didn't have the answers. He kept asking about his friends. I knew some of them didn't make it but I couldn't be the one to tell him that. Maybe that was wrong but I just couldn't. 

    Soon enough, Elizabeth and Ada walked through the door. Elizabeth gently hugged Charlie. She was about to start crying but she stopped herself when Charlie started too. I turned to Ada. I don't think I'd seen my brother cry like that in years.

    I eventually turned back around and we all sat with Charlie. It may not have been the family Christmas I was hoping for but I was grateful we were able to be together. Mom and dad may not have been there but I had them. I had a wonderful boyfriend and amazing friends. Maybe I did luck out this Christmas. Maybe things weren't as bad as they seemed. 

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Sorry this chapter was so short. The next one is a little short as well but I promise it will go back to normal after that. I hope you're enjoying it so far! Comment what you think!