Breach by Kelly Sokol

Author:Kelly Sokol
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Koehler Books
Published: 2022-02-23T14:19:09+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Dear Marleigh,

You know what I dream about out here? Normal everyday life. Our life is so good, Mar. You, of course I’m always dreaming about you. That hasn’t changed, and it won’t change. How are you feeling? I get hard thinking about you. I can’t help it. You’ve made me a teenager. How do you do that, woman? I love you. I don’t tell you that enough.

How’s little man? Has he changed so much? I keep picturing his little hairless chest, and his soft belly. I think it’s because everything here is gritty and rough. Dry mouth and sweat inside this heavy ass suit, helicopters. Unending noise. If I never hear another tarp or sheet of canvas flapping in the wind, I’ll be just fine. Coming in country has always been cut and dry for me. Making the world a safer place. Taking the fight to them, so these bastards don’t bring their shit back to the US again. I’m doing my job and my job protects people—kids, especially, now my kid, but all the kids, American, Iraqi and Afghani, the kids who deserve to grow up without their way of life being shit on. I know that. But goddamn it gets confusing sometimes. Hits you in the balls how much they need protecting. I look for you and Jason everywhere. His perfect face. Those curls. But I know better. Women here walk like they’re carrying bundled babies against their burkas. Those aren’t babies. They could be carrying something dangerous or acting as a distraction, decoys to draw the soldiers’ attention away from their surroundings, off their patrol routes. Still, I paused. A few days ago I was out, we saw a group of kids who looked at us like we’re God. They touched my fatigues, kicked my steel-toed boots, asked for candy. Someday Jason will be that age. They were cute. But at first my back stiffened when they approached us. I watched them to make sure they really moved like kids. That shit happens you know, people turning their kids into weapons. My guard dropped the second they got close. They all reminded me of Jason. What happens when we fuck kids up? I guess look at you and me. No one broke us.

I’m sorry it’s taken me a while to write. I haven’t been on base a whole lot. The calls have been a lot of the same hurry up and wait. Irregular becomes regular. Roadside IED, wired package. Inside, outside. Day and night. The most recent was inside a marketplace. Would’ve killed kids, women, grandpas. Who the fuck does that to their own people?

Good news is, looks like I’m coming home early. I’m tired and I need you and my son and I can’t fucking wait.

I love you, baby!

Jace

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