“I’ve failed my son. I wasn’t there when he needed me most.” The stranger surprises Elliot when he breathes out the confession. His voice is so low and quiet, it’s like the words float on the wind.
“It’s why I can’t leave you now, even though I know it’s what you want. No man left behind. SEALs live and die by that rule.”
No wonder the man has so much confidence. He actually did something with his life, something that brings pride and honor. He’s a true hero. Just when Elliot thought he couldn’t feel any worse…
“I’ve no one to leave behind,” Elliot finds himself confessing in just as low of a voice.
“There’s time to change that. You are still young. You can’t be over twenty.”
“I’m twenty-eight. I was supposed to be a doctor, but I got kicked out of my residency program in my last year. No hospital around will take me after that. There’s nothing for me now. Nothing.”
He expects the man to say something, offer some useless words of comfort or bullshit about tomorrow being better. Surprisingly, he doesn’t do any of those things.
“My name is Leo. Leo Franklin.”
“Elliot Walker.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Elliot.”
The man has a sparkle in his eye, knowing Elliot can’t say it back. If it wasn’t for Leo, Elliot’s plan would have been fulfilled by now. Jovial brown eyes turn so serious it’s as if they’ve changed colors between one blink and the next.
“Since we’re sharing our failures and all, I guess it’s my turn.” Elliot wants to turn his head and ignore what this stranger has to say. He knows exactly what he’s trying to do—turn it on himself to show everyone struggles and tomorrow is a new day, or whatever the hell that stupid saying is.
Elliot sighs and looks up to tell the man to go away and sees the man’s now horribly grave eyes, so brown they are almost black, fill with tears. The tears in the eyes of this war hero stop any thought process Elliot might have had. He is rooted to the spot and listening intently.
“I had a decision to make, one that ended up costing me everything. At the time, it felt like it wasn’t an option. When called, you go, and you never leave a man behind. That’s your job, and you do it without question.” Leo’s voice breaks on the last word, and he clears his throat while he takes a moment to regain his composure.
“My wife begged me to stay home, said my son was acting weird, wasn’t himself. I knew the job was important. She knew the job was important. So, I went…and I lost them both.”
Elliot wishes he knew what to say, but he was always crap at offering words of comfort. Facts, that’s what he is good at. But spouting off the divorce rate and how common it is right now probably isn’t the best idea, so he stays quiet.
“It’s easy to get caught up in ‘the job.’” Leo uses air quotes to make his point. “But in the end, the job doesn’t matter. It’s why you were doing it in the first place. You can still save lives without being a doctor, Elliot.”
“That’s what I was trying to do, but they didn’t care…”
“Tell me.”
Elliott looks over and can see Leo looks like he really wants to know. This giant of a man, a stranger who has taken on the world and all its problems, actually cares about Elliot’s. Something about that breaks him enough to talk about the one subject he swore he would never even think of again.
“I grew up in the system and had to claw my way out of it. You don’t have to guess that someone of my stature didn’t fare well, but I was smart, and I kept my head down, and I studied. I rocked the SATs and ended up with a full ride. Med school was hard, but I excelled at it. Then I got cocky. I was the top of my class, and all the attending doctors listened when I spoke…”
“Britches got too big?” Leo asks with a smirk, and Elliot just shrugs.
“Something like that. I lived in a less desirable area, I guess you could call it. Residents get paid next to nothing, and I came from nothing. Anyway, there are several refugees and illegals who live in my complex with no insurance and terrified of getting sent back. The first time I helped, it was a little girl who cut herself so bad she needed stitches. I always carried sutures on me to practice at home, so it didn’t seem of much consequence.”
“But I’m guessing it didn’t stop there?”
“No, it didn’t. I started ‘borrowing’ supplies from the hospital, and somehow the hospital found out what I’d been doing, and I basically lost my license before I ever well and truly started. So, you see, I can’t save lives. I can’t do what I’ve trained and studied for my entire life. No matter how hard I worked to become someone, I’m still that nothing kid who grew up to be an unworthy adult, just like everyone said I would.”
“If you try to find your worth in others, Elliot, you’ll come up short every single time. Your worth is in you. It’s in the things you do when nobody is around. It’s in how you treat those who have less than you. It’s putting others before yourself and the goals you had planned out. The man I’m looking at has far more worth than most, and I’ve been all over the world and encountered all kinds of men.”
“Where were you when they passed out dads?” Elliot tries to joke, to lessen the confusion Leo’s words caused him.
“For you? Probably elementary school.” Leo chuckles. “What do you say we head back down and get a beer, huh? There’s this little dive bar a few miles down the road.”
Leo looks so hopeful that Elliot finds his resolve waning. He takes a breath then sighs, knowing he can’t do anything but agree. Leo seems like the type of guy who would sit here all night if that’s what it takes to keep Elliot from his final goal.
“Oh, all right.” Elliot finally gives in. “I have a feeling I won’t shake you otherwise,” he admits, causing Leo to chuckle again at the truth behind his words.
“Let’s go, then. We have a trek ahead of us if we want to make it down the mountain before dark.”
Elliot follows the man down the trail that he was hardly able to climb in the first place. He was never one for physical activity, always preferring a textbook over the outdoors. He knows he should feel grateful that this man cares, but he can’t help but feel annoyed, knowing he’s going to have to climb the damn thing all over again tomorrow once he finally shakes him.
THREE
LEO SETS THE fastest pace he can without killing the poor kid. On the outside, he makes sure he portrays a calm demeanor, but inside, Leo feels anything but. His life as a SEAL meant a lot of rescue missions, but never has a mission had such high personal stakes for him before. He wipes the sweat from his brow with his shirt sleeve, hoping Elliot thinks it’s from exertion, even though he could do this trek in his sleep.
“You all right?” He checks in with Elliot, who is huffing and puffing so loudly Leo can hardly hear his response. “We’re almost there now. Just a bit farther and we’ll be at my truck.”
Elliot nods in understanding and keeps up the best he can, stumbling as he goes. Living in a war zone for part of his life taught Leo how to recognize desperation and defeat with just one glance. The minute he saw the kid’s face, he knew he had his work cut out for him.
Leo’s not naïve. He knows the chances of Elliot still going through with his plan is a high possibility. But it’s not one he’s willing to let happen if he has any say at all. He’s seen a lot of hurting people in his life. There’s no question this guy is alone and in pain. Leo might not be able to change the latter, but he might be able to help with the first.
Leo looks at the rapidly setting sun and passes Elliot the water bottle, slowing down enough for him to hydrate. The faster they get off this mountain, the better he will feel. Sure, the kid could turn around and go right back…but he’s hoping after the workout he just gave him, that won’t be possible.
After what feels like an eternity, the trail finally ends with the parking lot in sight.
“Thank God. I didn’t think I’d make it,” Elliot wheezes when he spots a single truck in the distance.
“Funny, I don’t remember seeing it there when I set out on my trek, even though that feels like a lifetime ago now.”
“You also probably weren’t in the best mental state to take notice of things. Look, we made it. You did good, kid.”
Leo can tell Elliot doesn’t feel well. The fact that he feels like he failed is written all over him…yet hiking that mountain up and back must feel like he accomplished a great feat at the same time. Even though Leo doesn’t know him personally, he can tell just in the short time they’ve spent together that he has conflicting emotions as they near his truck.
“Hop on in,” Leo invites as he pushes a button on his keychain.
Without another word, both men climb into the truck, and Leo starts the engine. The bar is only a few miles away, so Leo takes his time getting there, as he sets a slow pace.
“You know, sometimes the best way to get over your problems is to get under someone else’s,” he offers, knowing he has very little time left to make an impact on this guy.
Elliot, however, doesn’t look impressed at his insight.
“Isn’t the saying the best way to get over a girl is to get under another?” Elliot’s voice is heavy with sarcasm.
“Well, both apply, I guess,” Leo responds, sending him a cheeky grin.
“You know it’s not about a girl. I’m not just having a bad day. There’s no relief in sight for me.”
“Bad life, huh?”
“Something like that.”
“From what I saw, you put a lot of energy into ending your life…so why not put the same amount into starting over?”
Elliot glares at him then turns his eyes to the door handle of the truck. Seeing that one movement, Leo can’t help but put himself in Elliot’s mind. If he flings himself out and lands just right on his neck, then maybe, just maybe he could end it all right now. With that horrible thought, Leo slows down even more than before, and that’s saying something since he’s pretty sure they were passed by a little old lady flipping him the bird.
“Here we are,” Leo declares as he pulls into the lot of a dive bar that has seen better days. Elliot winces when the truck’s tires crunch on the gravel in the lot. Poor kid’s nerves are clearly shot.
Leo puts the car in park but doesn’t pull into a space. He looks down at the dash clock and swears, feeling truly torn.
“Sorry, bud. I’d love to go in and have a beer with you. You have no idea how much…but I have somewhere I need to be. Here, take this and go buy yourself a beer.” He tucks a bill into Elliot’s pocket.
“Uh, okay…thanks, I guess,” Elliot lamely responds, appearing confused what the appropriate parting should be to someone who saved your life.
“You’re welcome.”
Elliot sighs and jumps out of the truck, looking happy to be away from the man who knows and seems to see too much.
Just before Elliot reaches the door, Leo rolls down the passenger window and yells to him, “Remember, kid, today is a good day to be alive. You were put on this Earth for a purpose…maybe try to figure out what that might be.”
Elliot doesn’t say a word in response.
FOUR
ELLIOT WALKS INTO the dimly lit bar, which has a bit more charm than the outside might suggest. He bypasses the bar and goes straight to the men’s room where he splashes his face with water as he tries to regroup.
The amount and range of emotions that stranger has gotten out of him is seriously pissing him off, which is surprisingly hard to do. Elliot hasn’t felt any emotion in as long as he can remember, and now he seems to be feeling all of them at the same time.
His plan was so foolproof that he didn’t even bother coming up with a backup plan. He checked off every number on his list, and yet he is still standing here. Why?
He stares at the unimpressive face that looks back at him in the mirror. Mousy, limp brown hair, dead brown eyes half hidden by his glasses, and a small, lanky body…evidence he’s been hungry for more than half his life.
An old biker walks in and heads to the urinal, ending Elliot’s inner musings. Leaving the bathroom feeling no better, he approaches the bar and figures he might as well order a drink while he decides what his next step will be. He doesn’t even have anywhere to sleep or go until the sun comes up in the morning.
When he’d started following Leo down the mountain, he had originally planned to turn around and hike right back up it again once Leo left. With his luck, however, he would probably trip over something in the dark, injuring himself enough that he would be screwed but not dead.
He also hadn’t planned on the long hike down giving him pause. Or maybe it was just the thought-provoking questions from his companion.
A lady walks out of the back room with an armful of glasses, which she sets on the bar top then smiles over at him.
“I’ll be right with you, hun.”
Elliot nods and pulls the bill that Leo gave him out of his pocket…then he immediately chokes as he looks down at the hundred-dollar bill. Savior complex much? Elliot quickly puts the money back in his pocket. It’s hard not to feel grateful to the man. Even though he ruined his plans, he showed more concern today than anyone else ever has in the span of Elliot’s life.
“Sorry about that. Now, what can I getcha to drink? Wait, no, don’t tell me. An old fashioned, right? Coming right up.”
Elliot stares at the pretty brunette, wondering if she ever lets someone get a word in edgewise. She’s older than he is by about ten years or so, based on the lines that crease her smiling mouth. The bags under her eyes hint at a hard life, but there’s a lightness to her that almost brings you comfort. He can see how she could be good at her job.
“Here ya go, hun. Enjoy.”
She places an amber colored drink with an orange and cherry in front of him, which he quickly takes a drink of…then spits back into the glass. He takes back his previous thought; she’s horrible at her job. It’s got to be the worst thing he’s ever put in his mouth. That’s hard to accomplish, given most items he used to have in his kitchen had long lived past their expiration date.
A man Elliot hadn’t noticed at first comes over, smiling, and places a beer in front of him, winks, then walks away. What an odd bar. Although this day has been downright baffling, so why should this place be any different? He nurses his beer as the female bartender makes drink guesses for one patron after the other. He watches in amusement as each one chokes, coughs, or spits the drink back out. Then the quiet man behind the bar comes over with a different drink and a wink. Each time, the woman is completely unaware.
“How ya doing, hun? Another old fashioned?” the bartender asks, even though his is clearly sitting in front of him untouched.
“I’ll just have a beer, please…in the bottle,” he quickly adds, not trusting she wouldn’t mess it up.
“Coming right up, although I would have sworn you were an old fashioned kind of man.”
“Do you guess drinks often?”
“Every day. It’s one of my hidden talents.”
“How often are you right?” he asks, not bothering to hide his skepticism.
“Well, never…but just based on odds alone, I’m bound to be right one of these days,” she replies with a wide grin before she takes his untouched drink to the back.
“Strange one, isn’t she?” he asks the man behind the bar, who chuckles.
“She’s different, but not a soul around her is unaffected by her charms. Can’t mix a drink to save her life, but she brings in more business than any other bartender I’ve got.”
Elliot drinks his beer and contemplates what the hell he’s going to do now. Glancing around at the crowd, he almost laughs at the sorry lot of them. Looks like he’ll fit right in.
FIVE
ELLE BRINGS OUT two plates of food and sets them in front of her regulars. She glances over at the new customer with the sad eyes and wonders what could be plaguing someone so young, who has so much life yet to live. She could see the hopelessness in him the moment he sat
down. It’s not hard to read when it’s the same look staring back at you from the mirror every day.
“Can I getcha something to eat to go with your beers?” she asks the young man.
“Why not?” he says, not bothering to look up from where he is peeling off the label on his beer.
“Burger and fries sound good?”
“Sure.”
She throws Lyle a look over her shoulder, and he shrugs. She gives the guy one last look then goes to put his order in. You have enough problems of your own. You don’t need to be taking on any more, Elle chides herself, but it does nothing to ease her worry. The mother in her will always worry.
When the burger is ready, she takes the plate from the cook and heads back to the bar. “Here ya go. Can I getcha anything else?” she asks once she places his food in front of him.
Saying nothing, he shakes his head and then stares at his food, like it just might hold all the answers.
“Helvetica and Times New Roman walk into a bar,” she says to the stranger with a smile. He doesn’t smile back, so she continues with her joke. “The bartender shouts, ‘Get out of here! We don’t serve your type!’”
He stares at her without blinking.
“Get it? Your type?”
The guy says nothing but raises an eyebrow, either in concern or confusion, she isn’t sure.
“No? How about this one? Why do we tell actors to break a leg?” When she can tell he’s not at all amused or going to even try to guess, she soldiers on. “Because every play has a cast.” She chuckles at her own joke. “Dang, rough crowd.”
“Do people normally laugh at those jokes?”
“Well, my seven-year-old thinks I’m hilarious.”
“Elle, phone call,” Lyle calls, holding up the bar phone.
There’s very little cell reception out here, so they have to use the land line. Nobody would call her here except one place. Her laughter dies instantly, freezing her to the spot.
“Elle, it’s the hospital.” Lyle snaps, breaking her trance. He walks over, placing the phone in her hand, and all she can do is hold it to her ear as she breathes out three words.
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