Soon You'll Get Better

Two

Immediately, Erin regretted throwing that in his face. She jumped back as her brother bolted up with such force, that he knocked the chair over.

Eddie jumped to her feet, being pulled out of her little reservoir and gripped Jamie's arm. She watched as another fighting match (but the first she would witness) ensued.

"How dare you? How dare you throw her name around like that!" Danny snapped at Erin, his voice booming and echoing off the walls.

"Danny, I- I'm sorry. I didn't think-"

"Of course you didn't. Cause you never think, do you? You never do! How can I happily eat something when she's dying?!"

Everyone saw it; they saw when his heart shattered into a million pieces. It was as if he didn't believe it until he heard himself say it. He acted as though he would sit down, but then quickly walked away.

Baez immediately went after him, followed by Eddie who hoped she could help. They found him outside by the dumpsters, kicking and punching the metal until he slowed down and his breathing became ragged. They sat next to him where he had sunken to the ground, and just waited.

"It's our anniversary, y'know." Danny said, fiddling with his wedding ring.

Eddie looked at Baez and mouthed a profanity, the Latina nodding in agreement. "Your... wedding anniversary?"

"Engagement." He saw his future sister in law run a finger over her own engagement ring. "I was still in Fallujah, on the third year or something. She was in college... damn, we were young. She was only nineteen." He shook his head and a weird nostalgic smile formed on his lips. "I took her out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I asked her to marry me during dinner..." he shook his head with a chuckle. "She cried. Like, immediately cried. I didn't even ask when she started crying."

"Why was she crying?" Eddie wanted to know. By the way Baez was smiling, she had heard the story before.

"She was happy. She rambled as she tends to do; said how she had been dreaming about it for a long time."

"So when did you get married?"

"October 10, 1996." There was a long pause before he questioned, "got a cigarette?"

"You smoke?" Eddie was surprised; he didn't smell or look like a smoker.

"Used to. Wanna pick it up again."

"You shouldn't," Baez piped up. "Why don't you nervously eat or chew gum? Smoking's bad for your health."

Danny looked as though he would say something, but stopped himself and only scratched his bottom lip. "You think they have Corn Pops in there?"

"Maybe."

He nodded and stood up, nonchalantly dusting himself off. With the women in tow, he headed back into the hospital room.

Erin's head perked up when she heard footsteps. She immediately was at her older brother's side. On a rare occasion, she apologized. "I'm sorry, Danny. I really am, I just-"

"Forget about it." He clapped her shoulder and took his seat again. He wanted to tell her it was okay, but nothing was okay. Nothing was fine or keen or alright. Everything was black and dull and painfully numb.