As I stand in the quiet corners of my tent, I dread to make this call to Isabella. Yes, what was our love lay completely in tatters, and in a way, I know that I can make peace with that. The only thing that gives me comfort in all this pain is the little one that is growing in her belly.
It kills me not to be there during this time when every experience is new. When there is a miracle growing, and I cannot be part of that journey every day. What kills me even more is having to think that I might not ever get the chance to be there. Yes, I know that she will never do such a thing to me, but my heart still worries, and it worries even now more than ever, knowing that there is something that she needs to tell me.
I can, in all honesty, only guess that it has to do with the baby, for what else can she possibly do herself to destroy me. So even though I am so furious at her still, I gather all the strength I have left and dial her number once more.
It takes me a very
Four times…Four times it took me to stop myself from sending Isabella a message.I cannot stop thinking about what she must be going through. My damn heart bleeds so much for her.But what makes me bleed even more is knowing that he is there; he is holding her the way that I am supposed to be holding her.Why did things turn into such a fucking mess?Maybe just once.Maybe if I just speak to her once, then I will feel better.Maybe just once.So for the fifth time, as little as in four hours, I pull my cellphone from my pocket. I look over the camp that is still, and without causing much of a notice, I walk to the very tree where I feel I can just be myself and let my heart go.As I sit down, I play all the reasons in my head why I should not be doing this. What if James is with her? What if she does not want to speak to me?I just want to know if she is okay.So I swipe up and find her number. In n
It has been three weeks since things between Isabella and me have fallen apart. I have come, in my own weird way, to accept that it has come to a spectacular end. I have on the occasion, and might I say too many, but I have had the desire to phone her. I find myself with my phone in hand near sending her a message quite often. But between Galland and Cayley, I have managed to come to a point where I can say that I am moving on, slowly but at a certain pace.What I have also done is not been out on a mission with the squad either. I pose a bigger risk at getting myself, and even far worse, one of my men killed with my mind that just lacked being there.It is early morning; the camp is still dead silent, with only but a few Marines wandering around. I have come to the only place where I can breathe and free my mind. My haven, the tree on the far side of the camp. The light does not reach here, and it is eerily quiet. Only with a few bugs buzzing and the clear, beautiful
I would love to believe that I am playing with fire, but then I need to remind myself that Isabella is not present in my life anymore. Yes, it does still bring a sting to my heart, but it also makes my heart feel at ease that I am allowed to feel something for Caylee. What? I do not know.Some would say it is rebound, and others say it is lust. For most at camp, it is something to tease the Lieutenant over. Whichever it is, I simply cannot get enough of her. When I think of her, the feeling I do feel is…my heart hurts, but it hurts in a good way. Have I opened that box completely?Not yet…but god do I wish I could.We have kept whatever it is that is developing between us a rather great secret; in a way, I am back to keeping secrets again, but this, well, this is one that I enjoy keeping. I know that our relationship, well, if it is at that stage yet, but I know that it shall come out sooner or later.Now I am not concerned about the boys he
On my ass, in the mud.That is what you get if you stare at a woman's hips and do not look where you are going.Was it worth it? Well, my fucked up leg might tell you otherwise, but yes, I think I got in a full eye's view.So with a very much bruised and most definitely blistered leg, I get into the Humvee. Now, I don't know by the smile on her face if she is amused or slightly concerned.But the moment she leans forward and places her delicate fingers on the top of my prosthetic leg, she softly whispers, "Clay, are you okay?""We will see as soon as we get back. But yes, next time, refrain from swaying that ass so much."She only but bursts out in laughter, the rest of the Humvee only but whimper little chuckles underneath their breath. But the moment that Galland tries to even utter, I give him one full slap against his head."Get us out of here before I slap you even harder.""Well, Lieutenant, are you sure you don't w
I watch as my phone is persistently lighting up with Isabella's name. There is the biggest desire to just ignore her and pretend that she never called. But she has phone three times now, and it does have me rather concerned.So as I watch Caylee disappear down the camp, I swipe up and take Isabella's call."Hey, Isabella.""Hey, Clayton. I did not think that you would answer.""Well, you did phone three times, so I thought that it would be pretty pointless ignoring you."I hear as she bursts out laughing. Now, that is a sound that I have not heard in a while. I can only imagine how she is holding her chest as the laughter started rumbling from deep in her belly. She always did know how to brighten one's day with one of those deep heartfelt displays of complete happiness.Does this then mean that she is happy? I think there is a part of me that thought that she might be phoning because James has left her heartbroken. But, let me not jum
It has been tough since I spoke to Isabella. I can honestly say that I have pushed Caylee away since then. Now, I wish I can say that I don't know why. But I do.I still have feelings for Isabella.Now, what feelings? I have been too scared to think about it. I have been too scared to explore my heart to find out what they are.We have three months and a week to go; things have been what I expected. The excitement, the passion, and the risks. But what I have not expected is Caylee. Now, this is another feeling I am now scared to explore.And that brings me to this. Why do I need a woman to make me a man? Why do I need a woman to make me forget about another? Not that I am saying that Caylee is a rebound, but I have heard the stories going around at camp.Now Caylee and I have not gone all the way yet, and now more than before, I am asking myself why? What has changed that I don't desire her so badly?I wish I knew all the answers
Complete static. That is all I hear. It feels as if my world has come crashing down on me.I am not losing a man today. I am not losing a squad, and most of all, I am not losing Caylee. So it is with absolute frustration that I sit in a few agonizing moments and frantically try to get hold of Lewis and the Marines that were with him. I call for another unit to give me an update."Matthew. Come in.""Go ahead, Lieutenant.""Status on Lewis and his team.""They are under control now.""And Caylee?""Taken a shot to the chest. But her stats is fine.""Thank god! Get your asses back here.""Affirmative Lieutenant.""Roger. Over. Out."With that, I sigh in relief, once again, I should not, but I know the boys are coming back home and that Caylee is still alive. Now, this is a different kind of relief that I feel. Perhaps not the one that I truly thought that I would.So it is with anticipation that I wait
The moment that I heard that Caylee had gotten hurt, I could not bear thinking of how I would feel if I ever had to lose Isabella out of my life completely. I know it was the messed-up time to realize this, but I knew that I had to let go of this thing I thought I felt for Caylee. I was making her a way to run away from my pain, to deal with the heartache whenever Isabella pushed me away.Now here I am sitting, and I am asking the woman that I said I never want to see in my life again to take me back and somehow, even perhaps, forget that any of this has happened. My heart will not take to be even further rejected. I simply cannot live without this woman, and if she will give me half a minute, I will prove this to her.Is she will only say a word."Isi, did you hear what I said?""Yes, I think I did. Well, at least that is what my mind says.""Please, say something?""Clay, I, I think I must go. James is going to be home any minute."
It is in and out of consciousness that we take the drive back to camp. My leg is hurting like a bitch, and the only thing I can focus my mind on is…not fucking again.I don't know how badly I am injured; the moment I try to lift my head, I have Harrison pushing me down again. I have Lopez applying pressure on my leg to try and stop the blood from gushing out.I feel like a mess.I am losing a lot of blood very quickly, for the dizziness is starting to set in. Then…I am out.Next time I come to, I am being carried into the nurse's tent where you have a severely understaffed medical team running to save the lives of the badly injured. The ones only in need of a view stitched or a non-serious bullet to be removed are pushed to the side.If I thought the battlefield was a complete mess, this is complete chaos. Today is a very sad day for every Marine that walks and that used to walk these grounds. Here, in this tent, there will be more li
There is a rumbling thunder that comes down with great speed onto our backs. You can hear as brick by brick come crashing to the floor, splitting into pieces. As I, the final one, get to the street, we watch as it comes down to a spectacular end. A big cloud of dust covers us and half down the street.Once most of the dust has settled, we make our way back to the Humvees."Woohoo, that was fucking close."Lopez snaps his head to my left and looks me amazed in the eyes, "You losing your mind there, Lieutenant?""Now that was a rush. If I say it is better than sex, then Isabella might just kill me."Everyone only but bursts out in laughter at me as we have once again missed another near-death experience. These three months better come quickly, for this heart cannot take this excitement anymore. And let us forget about the heart, that was fucking tough on my leg. I am going to sit in pain for at least another day or two.But there is no time to
It is yet another morning at the bus station that I have to say goodbye to my family. This time shall be the final time that I shall give my mother that near-death experience where she so wishes to slap all sanity into me.But that is not my concern; my biggest is leaving the woman behind that I shall marry and start a family with. Her eyes are filled with tears of both happiness and joy; I think that seeing me doing this the last time is what shall drive her to get through the last three months.Though getting on that bus does not make it any easier. Three months is a long time for someone that is on nothing but hostile ground.And with that, as all the times before, I watch as the five most important people in my life become nothing but little ants in the back window.The drive to Pendleton this time is filled is heartache, and the flight to camp does not even bring as much joy as I wish it to be.But I am here to fulfill what I promised myself,
It is early morning as I sit on the porch waiting for Isi to wake up.There are only two things playing on my mind this morning.I am so goddamn happy to be home, and worst of all, I need to go back and finished what I have started.It is only another three months stretch to go, and by the way that things seem, some of the boys might be coming home earlier.Now I know that she will not love the idea, but I am not deserting my country; even though I chose my wife, I still have a service that I need to fulfill. One thing Clayton Jackson is not known for is to run away and hide. I want to be that hero; I want to make that difference, and god, I will be doing it the right way.So as Miss Sleepy Heads sticks her head around the corner, I know that she has watched me while I have been having turmoiled in my head."What has your daydreaming so early in the morning, soldier?""Well…" she only but cocks her head and looks at me."
I need to stop for one moment and take a step back; what makes this all worthwhile is the beauty that lies in my arms. Should I not have had her presence in my life, I would not have had the sheer willpower to take the impossible onTo have beauty in your life is easy, but to have the beauty of the woman that you love and the one that loves you in return is the greatest gift that one can experience. I can, with all honesty, say that there is no doubt that she completes my life. To be lonely for eternity can be seen as a life sentence, but having what you crave, is the greatest blessing.I have never been more assured to have chosen her to be mine for life.She does not only live in her own body; she lives in mine too. We are part of each other; we are one. I hear her footsteps in the passageways of my heart. Her voice echoes through my veins. I can see her face in the mirrors of my memories. She has engraved herself deep into my soul. She will forever be a part
What is the greatest thing a man can experience?Having back what you have thought you have lost for good. It is true that good things happen to those who wait, but damn, did I had to wait too long"Soldier, Are you going to stop staring at my stomach?""Sorry boo, but I still cannot believe that it is real, and you are sort of kind of a bit, so I can just not miss it.""You can be glad my hands are swollen, or else I would have punched you."I am a mess right now; I happy messed up, man. Here is the woman that I love more than anything, and she is still having our baby. I have missed out on so much, I can only imagine what she must have gone through, but I don't understand.""Boo, but why did you tell me that you lost the baby.""Mark said, as I told you, that he would kill your parents if I told anyone. He had this crazy idea in his head that he could raise our child as his own.""But where did James come in?""J
I know Isabella for far too long, for one, she is wearing some rather oversized shirt, which is not mine, and one that I very doubt would be that of James. And for a second, that damn sugar rush that she is forcing into that body, that well…"Isi, is there something that you are not telling me?""Clay, I think you need to come to sit down. Can I grab you a beer or something?""Somehow, I think I am going to need something far stronger than a beer right now. I think that overprized whiskey there will just do fine."With that, I watch her move toward the cupboard; her shirt is just a slight bit over that perky ass that has become slightly perkier than before. Now, if I were not so goddamn curious, then I would have pinned her down on this very kitchen counter, but I seem to feel that we will be requiring a bed for this one.So as she comes to sit across from me and to push a glass of chilled whiskey over to me, she casually has some oddly fres
We have not been able to find Caylee, but as per news from Matty, they have found Mark. Between the three of them, they came up with a plan to wrong the people whom they believe that wrong them. Well, what one hell of a wicked plan, if you may ask me.Now the last time I have spoken to Isabella, she was still very much taken aback by the great ordeal that has happened to her.Well, today I have a surprise for her. It took a lot of string, but I finally got the big man at the top to let me step away for but a brief moment. Now nobody expects me to know, of course, for I know that my dear mother can not keep her dear old mouth any more quiet than Betty.So it is with very hesitant steps that I finally step in front of the door that I have a grave to be for too many nights now.But from inside, I only hear her grunt and curse underneath her breath, "I told you goddam people that I do not have anything else to say."With a rather loud huff and a somewh
…Matty POV…A part of me is questioning if I truly did hear the words that are coming from the direction in front of me. If there are ever the most terrifying words that one has spoken, then I a sure that this will be it. I do wish that he did not just say that, for I am more afraid of Clayton's life than mine.No, as I stare into the godawful face of James, the other man has not yet made his appearance. Well, this shall not happen today. I shall not allow to be taken and overpowered by two men that clearly think that they are playing god.Now, as I watch Isabella's face, I see the terror creep over her face as the other man starts to speak. If there is ever the most terrifying look that words can not speak then that is what is on her face. But as this man steps forward, I can see the utmost expression of joy on his godawful face."Mark," I hear her gasp as she nearly trembles over in tears. "What are you doing here?""Next time, get