The Broken Soldier

One

Zachary

I don't remember getting shot. Nor do I remember passing out. All I remember is waking up in the military hospital with a nurse standing over me. I watch her check my I.V. and she doesn't notice I'm awake. I clear my throat loudly, "Oh!" She jumps, " Hello, Sergeant Phillips, Nice to see you finally awake." My eyes scan over her short red hair and the little freckles over her nose. Her lips are small and pink against her pale skin. Her hand lands on my chest and I flinch "Oh I'm sorry does that hurt?" She asks, but I don't know what she is talking about. I lift my hand to my chest and run my fingers over a layer of gauze "What's this?" I ask and her face softens "You don't remember?" She looks confused and sad when I shake my head.

"Sergeant Phillips, you were shot in the chest, arm, and leg. That's why you're in the hospital. You've been here 4 days." she picks up a chart and reads off of it "Says you lost a lot of blood. The doctors have been trying to contact your family but-"

"I don't have any family" I mumble and her face falls "Oh, i'm so sorry"

"Can you just leave me alone for a minute?" I was tired of seeing the look of sympathy on her face. I didn't need anyone feeling bad for me. I've been on my own since I was 15. My dad is a deadbeat and my mom is an alcoholic. I knew at an early age I had to do something with my life so, on my 18th birthday, I joined the Army. I had a girlfriend at the time who I sort of lived with, but she decided that once I would left she would crawl under some other guys arm. Basic training was hard at first, but nothing compared to how people explain it. It was better than walking the streets every night. After the first 4 years, I knew I wanted to make a career of this so I reenlisted. I've been in 6 years now, but this is the first time I've been shot.

As I lay in the bed, I try to remember the events before me being shot. All I remember is riding in the Humvee. I was talking to my buddy Victor then everything went black. I rub my forehead frustrated that I just can't remember. "f**k" I mumble to myself. I try to sit up but then I feel the pain shoot through my arm and I fall back onto the bed. I grunt and ball my fists up. The same nurse that just left hears me and comes back. "You okay?"

"Can you help me sit up?" The nurse nods and helps me sit up more, stuffing a pillow behind me. I nearly break out in a sweat from the pain in my arm and leg. The nurse gives me a cup of water and tells me that the doctor will bring me something for the pain. Thank God. As I'm laying in the bed, I lose focus in my thoughts wondering what happened to me. Suddenly, I hear a loud crash next to my bed and I lose it. I don't know what happened but when I blinked a few times the nurse was on the floor near tears. I look at her as she picks up empty bedpan she dropped.

"I'm so sorry Sergeant Phillips", She hurries off and I'm left sitting there confused.

A few moments later a man in scrubs comes up.

"Sergeant Phillips, nice to see you up and doing well. The bullets didn't do much damage or anything. You'll just need several months to get back to the norm. You may have to walk with crutches and a cane for a while from your leg but physical therapy can help with that."

As he talks he injects something into my I.V.

"This should help with the pain. Also, our nurse tells us you had a little episode earlier. Do you remember what happened?" I shake my head.

"Well, I want to order a few tests to see what's going on. I'll come back and check on you later. If you need anything just hit the button." I nod and he walks off.

I'm left sitting in the bed bored as hell for the rest of the day. The food is s**t and the nurses aren't even that attractive. I think I almost made a nurse cry when I blatantly told her to stop trying to flirt with me because I'll never be interested. I didn't mean to be an asshole, but the streets and the Army molded me into one. For the rest of the day, a different nurse comes in the place of the one who was assigned to me. As the days go by I begin to feel lost knowing I won't be able to go back on the front line with my troop. What the hell am I supposed to do till then? Where am I supposed to live? When I joined the army, I had no home. So now that I'm out for a while I have nowhere to stay.

I can't stay in the hospital forever. I'm supposed to be discharged in 2 days.

Late in the afternoon, I get a message that the Lieutenant Colonel of my battalion is coming to see me about something. I don't really have to slightest idea what for. Later that evening, he comes to the hospital. When he walks in, I stop eating my crappy dinner to salute him. He salutes back.

"As you were." He says.

"You wanted to see me Colonel Jensen" I mumble as I drink my water washing down the weird taste from this food.

"Yes, You are the last case I have to handle before I head home for good. I'm settling in the states for good and I just wanted to come to talk to you for a moment."

I nod and he continues "The doctor sent over a review of your status and it doesn't look good. Looks like they are sending you back to the states too"

"Yes, they told me for a few months till I can get better." I say as I frown.

"It's going to be a little longer than a few months son. Like a year or two"

I frown hard and look past his head to the tv.

"I can't stay in the states that long sir. I have to return to the front line" I refuse to go back for that long. I agreed to come here for a reason and that's to fight for my country. I didn't know how to not fight.

"Sorry soldier there is nothing I can do. It also says in your file that you have had a few post-traumatic episodes. You will need to get with a therapist when you get back. Have they notified your family?"

"I don't have any family sir. I don't have anywhere to live in the states" I usually don't tell anyone that but I can tell he is trying to help a little. I run my fingers over my hair wondering what the hell I'm going to do about this situation. I don't have any friends to crash with or anything. I don't have time to search for an apartment. I'm just lost.

Colonel Jensen clears his throat.

"Phillips, I have a proposition for you. I want you to come live with me while you get yourself together. It's a big house. It's just me and my daughter who live there. Well, she has been living there alone while I've been here. You're more than welcome to stay with us."

I think about it for a minute and I really want to say no but what other choice do I have. It's the only option I have right now. I take a deep breath and let go of my pride.

"That would be great sir, Thank you."

He stands up "Great. We will leave first thing when you are discharged. You'll love it in Mississippi"

Mississippi? What the hell did I just get myself into?

When I'm discharged, Colonel Jensen is in front of the hospital waiting for me. He is regular clothes and has on sunglasses.

"Ready, Phillips"

"Yes, sir" The nurse helps me into the car and I grunt from the pain in my leg.

Once I'm in, the nurses wave goodbye and head in. The driver of the car cranks it and heads to the airport. I sleep most of the flight trying to ignore my surroundings and the constant nagging from the flight attendants who just won't accept no for extra peanuts. However, one attendant catches my eye and I must admit she is hot, but I will not engage in any conversation with her. It's a waste of time. I haven't been in a relationship since I joined the Army and I'm pretty sure it's safe to say that with the amount of baggage I was carrying, no woman would be able to handle me.

We land somewhere in Alabama and Colonel Jensen insists on driving the rest of the way. I have never been in the south, but the air is thick and hot. My skin becomes sticky almost immediately after I got off the plane. I thought it was hot in Iraq, but the south is a different type of hot. A moist hot that makes you want to take a cold shower. I look over at Colonel Jensen and he seems not the slightest bit bothered by the heat and humidity. I think back to what he told me about having a daughter. I never really liked kids, but I'm sure she isn't a kid since he said she is living alone in their house. He told me her name is Marley which is weird to me because I've never heard of a girl with that name.

A few hours later we enter Mississippi. We pass by swaps and creeks and I swear I see a sign for an alligator swamp tour. I take in the scenery and it's actually nice to look at. We pull up into a long dirt driveway and I see a pretty big house. The porch wraps around the house and it looks like there are woods out back. Colonel Jensen gets out of the car and I see the front door swing open. A short brown haired girl runs out to him. He picks her up and swings her around. I remain sitting there as he puts her on her feet. Her eyes find mine and a confused look crosses her face. I take in her looks and she is actually quite beautiful, but clearly too young her me and plus, I wouldn't dare try anything with Jensen's daughter. I get out of the car and she walks up to me.

"Hi, I'm Marley" She reaches her hand out to shake, but I don't return. Her small hand falls as she reaches into the back seat to get my duffle bag.

"Um is this all you have?" she asks and I nod as I begin walking off. Crutches in hand, I wobble my way to the door leaving Marley to struggle with my bag. I hear her huffing, however, I don't really care. I swing the screen door open and let it slams closed. Marley mumbles something, but I don't pay it much attention.

She seems a little naggy but I'm not going to judge her too quickly. I just don't want her to think I want to be her friend. I just want to get better and get out of this hell hole. Which actually felt a lot like hell.