Finding Casey

Day 3 of Training campWe had to write letters from beyond the grave. Letters for our families as a way to say goodbye. They won't get mailed out unless you pass. It was an 'If you got this letter, this means I won't be coming home' type of thing. I tried not to think about the ways I could tear my family apart-ways that I knew would happen if they ever received a letter from me or my brother.I wrote my letter to Mom and Dad and one to Oliver, but then I also wrote my own letter to mail to them for tomorrow's deliveries.Dear Mom and Dad:Bootcamp's going great. Early morning starts, and there are a few drills that we didn't expect to be doing right away, but I met a friend here. Jackie, her name is, and she's good. Oliver and I haven't been roomed together as expected. Still, I am honestly enjoying our time here, and before you know it, we will be back home and driving you all mad as usual. I hope you are all doing okay, and Sophia is keeping you on your toes. I will transfer some m

4 years ago:It's been a long journey over the last 7 years. Me and Oliver spent our 21st birthday at home on leave. We got back a few days before our birthday, and we spent most of the time slumming it at home.Only to be re-deployed 2 months later to Japan on a mission that took 9 months, but when we got home, we were reassigned to the same mission because the problem caused more problems and it wasn't done. It took another few months in the hot weather, but we managed to get ourselves to safety. We turned 24 last month and had just come back from base after our birthday for a few weeks before we were sent back to San Diego.You never know when you're about to leave so they always prefer you to be back on base so you can leave the moment your captain tells you too.Our younger sister, Sophia, has turned into such a sassy, clever young lady and has surprised everyone when she has a school project that asked her to write about the people who inspired her most.She wrote about me and O

Weeks turned into months, and months turned into a year, which led to two years. Each passing day that they didn't find Casey was another day that life became harder for her family.Her mom fell ill with depression after they found out Oliver had died, and they went to identify the body. They then had a funeral at Arlington Cemetery, where they did the 21-Gun-Salute. An extremely hard day is made even worse when we don't know where Casey is. She never would have missed her brother's funeral. The captain of their team had been wheeled here and spoke about Oliver, his time in the military, and then Casey, how she saved not only her brother but four more of their people. A few of their friends who had joined with them came and paid respects.Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton didn't leave the grave until the next day. Sophia came home with their grandparents, and since then, it hasn't been the same. Everything they do, they do it with sadness in their bodies now.The once-happy family, who enjoyed B

The days here are filled with endless amounts of nurses, blood being taken, night terrors in the day, which is bizarre, a lot of attempts to get me to go to therapy, attempts to talk, and it's driving me insane.I just want to feel something.Angry.Sad.Fear.Something. I don't even know how long I have actually been here, but I wrote down that I don't want anyone visiting apart from Max, and even he is limited to how many times he shows up. I haven't spoken to him yet, and I haven't spoken to anyone. I hear his voice speaking to someone down the hall."Katie, it's been nearly 2 months since she got here. Are you sure she's okay?""Max, you know the drill in this: you were once a military man yourself and converting back to a civilian life was hard for you who left with full bill of health and therapy to ease you into it. She's not been back in this life for a long time but hopefully she will one day"He grunts something, which makes me smile. He's always been a grumpy bastard, if

"What are you doing here?" I ask him as I look into his eyes. His eyes are on mine as well, but I can't look away."Because you fell asleep and I didn't want to wake you up. There's a storm that's coming and it's supposed to be a huge storm as well. I will leave before it comes""You don't have to. I like you coming down""I like it too but you don't need me here; you're strong and witty enough to get by on your own. You have us all here, Cassi You really do and I'm not saying this because I feel sorry for you No no offence, and don't take it personally but I can't because I know you'd hate it. You and Oliver were to stubborn to admit defeat so don't do it, okay""You don't understand""I don't. And you'll open up when your ready to open up but can I just say one thing"I nod my head for him to continue but I can feel the anger dissipating the more he speaks. He never liked me when we were teenagers anyway so theres no harm in listening to his words."What would Olly want?""To be her