No Man Left Behind: A Veteran Inspired Charity Anthology

by Elizabeth Knox

  “You want me to cook?”

  “Oh, I forgot to ask, does fire trigger flashbacks?” Darren seems serious about the job offer and concerned about my mental health. I start to chuckle. This can’t be real. He’s not serious, is he?

  “I’m sorry but is cooking for a bar beneath the great Mia Edwards?” Darren bows down like I’m a queen or something regal then gets off the bed. I notice the smirk on his face in the reflection of the television screen. “Rest up and Adam will take you home.”

  “I can’t stand on my legs for long periods of time. I’ve been ducking my therapy appointments,” I blurt out.

  “Okay. Why don’t I help you with physical therapy and you cook at night?”

  “I don’t know. Can I think about it?” Cooking sounds like fun and I do miss it.

  “Sure. I’ll pick you up tomorrow for some physical therapy.” Darren walks out of the bedroom. My mouth is hanging wide open as Adam walks in.

  “What did I miss?” He looks back to Darren’s retreating back and me. I shake my head laughing. I’m not even sure he’d believe me.

  Chapter Four

  Darren

  It’s nine o’clock in the morning and I’m standing in the kitchen at the Edwards’ house. Mr. Edwards let me in and offered me a cup of coffee that I took him up on. I’m tapping my foot waiting on Mia to get her ass into the kitchen. She knew that I was coming here at nine to get her. Mr. Edwards comes back into the kitchen alone. He shrugs.

  “She’s not a morning person. She is going to try everything to get out of this.” He tells me something I don’t already know.

  “Oh, I know. Is her room still upstairs next to Adam’s?” Mr. Edwards shakes his head.

  “She’s in the study.” I nod putting the cup down. Walking towards the study, I look around the downstairs there’s a bathroom with a shower across from the study, but I’m taken aback from what I see when I finally get to the study.

  Mia is sleeping on the couch, a potty chair near her feet, wheelchair closest to the door, and a recliner across from me. The TV is on the opposite wall of Mia’s makeshift bed.

  “Oh, hell no. This is not going to work for me.” I start moving things around. The wheelchair and potty chair are now in the living room. Her leg and crutches are now leaning up against the bottom of the bed. I pull out my phone to bring Spotify up. I search for an annoying song and find it. I turn up the volume on my phone before placing it next to her ear. I hit play and “Baby Shark” comes through the speakers.

  “What the fuck,” Mia yells as she’s literally startled out of bed. She lands on the floor face first. “Son of a bitch,” she yells. Mia looks like she’s doing a push up as she looks around the room.

  “Morning, sunshine. I’m glad to see you are out of the couch.” I laugh at my own stupid joke. “Get up. Let’s go. We have a lot to do.”

  “I need some help,” Mia whines. This is not a good look on her. I sigh as I grab her from behind placing her on the couch. I point to her leg and crutches.

  “It’s warm out there so wear shorts so you’re comfortable.”

  “Am I allowed to use the crutches?”

  “For now, but at some point, they’re gone.” Mia flips me off.

  “You’re an asshole.”

  “I’m an adorable asshole. Move. I’ll give you twenty minutes and if you’re not ready then you go as you are.” I walk back into the kitchen to finish my coffee.

  “Why are you doing this?” Mr. Edwards questions me. He’s not happy with me. He’s scowling at me. Mia’s facial expressions are a lot like his. I know his heart is in a good place when it comes to Mia. He’s always been protective of her and now more so than ever.

  “When my dad had his stroke, he laid there feeling sorry for himself. He actually wished he had died instead of the partial paralysis. I saw the same look in Mia’s eyes as my dad. You are her family, the ones to take care of her. You can’t be the mean one who makes her do what she needs to do without being bothered by her whining and crying. My dad had an occupational therapist who came in tough as nails, no nonsense kind of guy. He got my dad up and moving. I’m the guy for Mia.”

  “I can understand that but go easy on her. She’s not the same Mia,” Mr. Edwards comments. He has a sadness in his demeanor. They are coddling Mia. She’s never going to get strong enough for her to be on her own if they keep this up.

  “She is the same Mia. I see her in there when she talks but she’s letting this broken-down Mia take over.” I sigh. He’s not going to listen to me. “She’s going to cook for me part time at the bar as well. It’s one of the reasons that I’m here. I’m helping her get her sea legs back.”

  “Take it easy on her is all I ask.” Mr. Edwards is like a broken record about Mia. He’s probably worse than Mrs. Edwards and Adam. I nod not wanting to argue with him.

  “I’m up. What now?” Mia seems less than thrilled to be doing this.

  “Breakfast. Let’s go.” We both say goodbye to Mr. Edwards who looks like a nervous parent dropping his child off for the first day of daycare. He’s peeking out of the curtains in the living room. Mia starts walking over to my truck. “Where are you going? We’re walking.”

  “Really? Can’t we do drive-thru or something?” Mia whines again and it’s starting to grate on my nerves.

  “I don’t remember you being such a whiner even during your whining phase. Come, let’s go. Hop to it.” I smile as I clap my hands at her. “We’re going at your pace. I was thinking waffles at the diner.”

  “That’s half a mile away. Are you sure?” Mia opens her mouth and when I look at her, she tells me that it sounds good. “I think I can do it.” Mia swallows hard. She already has in her mind that she can’t do it. “I overheard what you said to my dad. You’re not going to baby me, are you?”

  “Nope.” I pop my lips. “I’m not going to be a drill sergeant either. I’m here to encourage and push you to be better, to get yourself healthy.”

  “Thank you.” Mia stumbles a couple of times, but she catches herself. The swearing and threatening to rip me to shreds are entertaining.

  “Why don’t you do physical therapy? You could be walking without the crutches and not in a wheelchair all the time.” I’m genuinely curious as to what is making this chick tick right now.

  “I don’t know.” Mia’s lying to me. I should push for the truth, but I don’t want to send her into a panic attack.

  I’ve been doing some volunteer work at this place called K9s for Warriors. It’s a place for veterans who are disabled, mentally and physically, to bond with and help train their dogs to offer them support. I donate supplies, do some cleaning, and learning how to dog train as well. I’ve learned one of the most important things you can do for a veteran going through PTSD is not to push. It could trigger something in them.

  “Are you seeing a therapist?”

  “Yes and she’s making me journal. I struggle with what happened to me over there. It’s like my brain wants to keep that time hidden in me. I don’t know if I ever want to know but the nightmares are like flashes of it. I try to piece it together, but nothing makes sense.” She sighs. We stop at the bridge where they have benches for people to sit down. We’re walking on the town bike path that a lot of walkers and runners use as well. “Thanks for letting me sit down. I need a rest. I’m not used to walking so much.” She sighs in relief.

  “No problem. I could rest too. Here’s a water for you.” I hand her a bottle that I swiped from her house.

  “I’m nervous,” Mia confesses. I’m waiting for more but nothing. So I start guessing.

  “About what? Your face?” I notice that she’s wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball cap that covers her eyes, pushed down over her right side. “Your prosthetic?”

  “Well duh!” She sarcastically laughs. “I’m in shorts so everyone can see that I don’t have both my legs. You already know how I feel about my face.”

  “You shouldn’t be nervous. You’re beautiful.” Mia scoffs.
“Mia, you were in an accident that you lost your leg, scars covering the damage of something, and burns on your face show everyone who sees you that you’re a survivor.” Mia laughs at me. “No, a warrior who survived hell.” I move her blonde hair off her shoulder. “You have in that pretty head of yours where Mia is useless, shouldn’t be alive. Blah. Blah. Blah. You’re not a victim.”

  “I am a victim of my own thoughts and some terrorist who tried to kill me and killed my unit,” she snaps at me. “I know that I signed up for this when I became a soldier, but they don’t train you how to deal with survivor’s guilt. There is always one question going on in my head from the time I get up to the time I go to sleep; why did I make it out alive while others didn’t?” Mia sobs. I pull her into my arms rubbing her back.

  “We may never know the answer to that question. But a question I was going to counter with when you think like that; is hiding out in your house honoring their memories?”

  Chapter Five

  Mia

  I was pissed at Darren for the way he woke me up and for forcing me to get out of the house but I’m glad that he did. It’s nice being able to talk freely without having guilt for thinking what I’m thinking. I love my parents and brother but sometimes they just don’t get it. My nose tickles with Darren’s cologne. It’s a nice blend of musk and woodsy. His strong arms around me make me feel like I can conquer anything, like I want to do anything to make him happy.

  “Darren, do you think that we can keep walking? I’m starving. Also I need to take my leg off for a little bit as long as that doesn’t bother you.”

  “It doesn’t bother me. Let’s go.” He stands up. I grab the crutches to stand up too. He helps balance me. We walk in silence for about fifteen minutes.

  “Cooking for you, how many hours would I have to work?” He smiles at me. He thinks that he won and got me.

  “Maybe twenty hours a week. Gordon said that he’d be happy to train you on his recipes.”

  “Would I have to bartend?” I’m nervous about being in the public.

  “Not if you don’t want to. Gordon only cooks and never leaves the kitchen. Your scars don’t make you hideous, you know that, right?” I don’t know if I trust him. He’s my brother’s best friend he has to be nice to me or Adam would kick his ass.

  “Then why do people cross the street when they see me?” Darren stops dead in his tracks and stands in front of me taking off my baseball cap. “What are you doing?”

  “Pull your hair up. Show off your face,” he demands.

  “No, now give me back my hat. You have me out here walking in shorts showing off my legs can we do baby steps, please?”

  “I don’t think so. Mia, you have secluded yourself long enough. Hair up, now.” He wasn’t wrong. I’m terrified to show that vulnerability. I sigh knowing that he’s not going to budge if I don’t do it. My hands are shaking as he takes the crutches from me. I grab my hair at the base of my skull to thread it through the opening in the back of the baseball cap. You can only see part of my burns on my face but enough to make me feel self-conscious, vulnerable, scared, and ugly.

  “Now look at that.” Darren tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re beautiful, Mia.” His hand lingers on my right cheek. I know I can’t feel anything, but I swear my face is heating up from blushing. I close my eyes enjoying the touch from the man who I have dreamt about for years. I’ve always wanted Darren to come running into my bedroom to tell me that he needed me. My eyes fly open when I feel his lips on my lips. His tongue parts my lips so he slides it into my mouth. I instinctively throw my arms around his neck and his hands are now on my hips pulling me closer to him. I moan as we deepen the kiss. We break apart from each other trying to catch our breath. I’m staring into those hazel eyes of his with a smile on my face. Wow is the only thing that we have said in two minutes.

  “Where did that come from?” I’m startled by the kiss. Was it pity? Was it lust?

  “I’ve always thought you were beautiful and have wanted to do that to you and so much more for a really long time.” His revelation has my head spinning.

  “Why now?” I’m so confused as he lets out a sigh.

  “Let’s walk and talk.” I nod as he gives me back my crutches that were knocked over when we were kissing. “I’ve had this crush on you since you were a freshman and I was a senior. I kept my mouth shut because of Adam. He was having a hard time with you being in the high school with us and a lot of people were ogling you. I came back after college to tell you, but I heard you were getting ready to go off to basic training.”

  “I remember you at my going away party that my parents threw me. You were also at my graduation after boot camp. Why didn’t you say something then?”

  “At the party, Adam was pretty messed up about you joining the Army and going away. That you could possibly head overseas or die. He got so drunk that I had to play babysitter. Then at your graduation you were dating that douchebag,” Darren says. I open my mouth to speak but Darren has more truths to get out. “This is the first time I’m seeing you since you were in your coma.”

  “You were at the hospital?” This is a lot of information being thrown at me all at once. We finally make it to the diner. He holds open the door for me and I start to panic as a couple comes out. They nod at me before rushing out. I’m standing there waiting for the hostess when I notice all eyes are on me. Darren is standing next to me. “I want to go home. Please I can’t do this.” My anxiety is rising so the pain in my chest is starting. My panic attacks often mimic a heart attack.

  “You’re not alone. Come on.” Darren points to the booth in the back corner. “The waffle surprise with whip cream looks good.”

  Ever since the accident, I sit with my back facing a wall so I can stare at the door so no one can get a jump on me.

  “I’m not hungry.” I close my eyes trying to get my breathing under control. Darren keeps talking about the damn menu.

  “You need to eat. You need your strength to walk back to your house. Besides, I thought you wanted to rest some since your leg is bothering you,” he says. I take the leg off and rub the stub of my thigh. They had to amputate most of my leg. I have about half my thigh.

  “It’s sore but it’s nice to feel pain again.” I laugh because that sounds ridiculous. I finally give in when the waitress comes over to take our order. “I’ll have the waffle surprise with a chocolate milkshake. Can I get strawberries on the side?”

  “Sure thing, darlin’. The usual Darren?” The waitress chuckles when he says yes. “He’s here every day but this is the first time he brought a beautiful lady.” She winks at me and walks away. I’m blushing again. Darren reaches for my hands.

  “I know this is sudden but I want to take you out tonight. I can have Michelle cover me at the bar tonight. There’s something I want you to see. What do you think?”

  “I’d love to but I don’t know how my leg is going to feel.” Darren tilts his head to the right, lower lip out, blinking fast. The damn puppy dog face. I laugh and agree to it.

  “Since you’re saying yes to everything I’m asking . . .”

  “Watch it, buddy.” I laugh.

  “I think you need a good night’s sleep. Try going upstairs tonight.”

  “I don’t know how to walk up the stairs with my leg yet.”

  “Mia, I’ll be there with you. Your knees bend like a normal person even though your one leg is amputated. Don’t over think it. I’ll bring your meds and journal up to you.” I shake my head in disbelief.

  “You gave this big speech to my dad about not coddling me,” I paraphrase his speech, ‘but you’re kissing me and taking me on dates. What happens now, big boy?”

  “I’m not going to coddle you. I might cuddle you but not coddle.” He laughs at his own stupid joke. “If, no, sorry, when I get you out every day that is another day with you. So, it’s a win-win situation all around.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me. I throw my napkin at him. “If my calculations are right, I have
what twelve years to make up for liking you?”

  “I think so.” The waitress brings us our food and shakes. We dig in and I moan after each bite of the waffle. “This is so damn good.”

  “Worth the walk, huh?”

  “Definitely. I’m going to need a nap after this walk. This is the most physical therapy I’ve done in a while. What time do you work today?”

  “Eleven a.m. to close so I’m going to see if Michelle will cover me a few hours tonight.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “You trust me don’t you?” I stare at him which causes him to laugh.

  Chapter Six

  Darren

  Kissing Mia was a good and bad thing. I’ve wanted to do that for years and now that I had her in my arms and on my lips, I need her even more. Bad thing about kissing her and telling her that I’ve liked her for so long is, can I still be the hard ass that she needs to get to living again? We slowly walk back to the house.

  “Sorry, we can’t hold hands right now. I guess that’s a good goal for me to strive to.” Mia seems happy now. I stop Mia at her porch.

  “I want you to get better for you, not for me.” I need her to really hear this from me.

  “I am doing this for me and holding your hand is a perk,” she teases. “Now, who is telling Adam?”

  “Fuck. He’s going to kill me, isn’t he?” Mia laughs as she shakes her head no.

  “He would want us to be happy, especially me. We can tell him now. He’s inside staring at us.” Mia waves as Adam quickly closes the curtain and opens the door.

  “Hey, guys. I wasn’t spying or anything.” Adam doesn’t look upset but more like he has a secret. “Anyone want to tell me something?” He looks between Mia and me. After not saying anything Adam finally bursts, “I saw you two kissing on Main St.” He smiles. Mia and I are so confused.

  “You’re not mad?” Mia is shocked.