When It Falls (Sequel To Skate On) {ON HOLD}

Chapter 3: Back To Reality

CHAPTER 3: Back To Reality

On our private flight back to Chicago, I fell asleep while listening to my music. I hadn’t had that much sleep for the last 2 days. So many things whirling around in my head were keeping me awake, and I needed to sleep if I wanted to play. No matter how painful my dreams were.

The atmosphere was very scary silent, I knew there was something wrong. From a far, I could hear men’s voices, some were shouts, and some were cries of pain. I knew exactly where I was when I could finally realize that the loud noise was gunshots.

I looked around me and noticed that I was in a very poor village that looked inhabitant. I looked around me more carefully, the empty streets were suddenly becoming louder and I knew soldiers were coming closer beneath the buildings. And just behind me, Canadian soldiers ran by me with their guns armed. In only an instant, back in front of me were Afghanistan soldiers, shooting them all dead. Over 5 Canadian soldiers dead in less than a minute.

My mouth fell open in shock and I moved away from the dead bodies, completely terrified, but not as much as I could be when I turned around and saw my brother coming forward with a bunch of other privates behind him, guiding them. His attention was immediately on the Afghanistan soldiers and as he began to shoot, a few of them started to fall to the ground dead. And before I knew it, they had them all.

But once my eyes left my brother for a split second, I immediately regretted it and sank to my knees on the ground. “NO!” The other Canadian soldiers surrounded him, but I already knew by the look on his face that he was killed in action and there was nothing they can do, nothing you can do when a bullet landed you in the head.

I began to sob, not wanting to get closer to him than that. I didn’t need to see to his dead body, when I’d already seen him fall over.

“Rose, wake up. You’re only dreaming.” 

I gasped and realized that it was true, it was all a dream. None of it was real, only the part of being in pain. I put my hand over my face and felt tears against my eyes, wiping them away quickly. As I looked back up, I noticed someone else in front of me who I had never seen before but was wearing a uniform that was familiar.

“Are you okay, ma’am?” One of the flight attendants’ asked.

I nodded, still in shock but trying to sit back straight in my seat. “I’m fine, thank you.”

She smiled and walked away.

Kaner’s hand was reaching over mine, and I lifted the seats sides, so that I could lean against him and just let him comfort me. I needed someone to hug me. I just really wanted my brother to be okay, so desperately. 

Kaner’s arms went around me. “You scared me, you know? I thought you were dying in your sleep.”

“I was.” I took a deep breath and he pulled me closer to him. We were so close to each other’s face, it was hard not to kiss him.

He looked at me concerned for a second, and his hand was against my shoulder. “Your heart's beating so fast.”

I nodded, simply lying my head against his shoulder.

“What did you dream about?” He asked, rubbing over my shoulder.

“It felt so real…” I said, staring off into the distance, thinking back at my brother lying lifelessly on the ground. “I dreamed my brother was killed on mission, and it’s one thing to know it but to see it was horrible. I wanted to die.”