She looks down at her leg."Yeah.Looks like a one-way ticket out of here."She takes a deep breath, then relaxes, letting the morphine have its way with her.When she looks up at me again, she says."Easy Mama's going home to see my Badass Baby Daddy and our precious little girl!"
The look on her face makes my breath hang in my throat, and my gut tightens.
She closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep as I stand there guarding her.When the medics return with a gurney, I wake her."Easy.Time to go home."
Her eyes flutter, and when she focuses on me, she smiles.
I back away but continue to guard my friend as they work to remove her from the vehicle.When she's free and her leg is being secured, I watch her pass out from the pain.But when they lift her to carry her to the bus, her eyes open, and she reaches for me.
I walk over to clasp her hand."Take care of yourself, Easy."
"Will do, Sir.You too."She squeezes my hand.
"Your Badass Baby Daddy is one lucky man."
She grins, then laughs."Yes, he is!"
Then the medics carry her away.
I watch for just a moment, then turn to leave, knowing it's time to report to my commanding officer.
I take a few steps, then hear her yell after me."Hey, Hard?Don't stay that way."
I throw my hand up in the air, letting her know I heard her.
"I'm serious, Asshole!"She yells, making me laugh out loud.
I turn to face her and shrug my shoulders as I continue walking backward."Hardcore."I double-tap my heart with a closed fist, then spin around and continue walking away.
She laughs and yells as they load her on the bus."Bro, you didn't fool me!Hardhead for damn sure, but not hardcore!"
I sling both arms in the air, spin to face her again and give her a final salute, flipping her off."I won't forget you, Easy Mama."
"You better not!"
"I won't."
....
....
....
As the vision that haunts me vanishes out of sight, my gut tightens.
War fucking sucks balls.
I pinch the bridge of my nose wishing I could forget the look on Easy's face when she spoke of her Baby Daddy….It was unadulterated beauty.Full of undeniable love.
The memory triggers raw emotions I had learned before the war to push deep down inside.Leaning my head back, I take deep cleansing breaths, trying to gain control of the pain.Wishing I didn't long for someone to look at me that way.Knowing that finding someone who would … well, I gave up a long, long time ago.
As the shutters in the cabin are lifted one by one, and the brightness from the sun brings me back to reality, I feel the bands of cold hardcore steel wrapping around my heart, and I gain control again.
The flight attendant asks, "Mr.Moore, would you like coffee, tea, or perhaps something stronger?We have Crown Royal in the freezer."
I smile.It's always nice when your preferred drink of choice is remembered."I'm good with water.Thank you."
He nods and returns to his station to retrieve a bottle for me.
