Disarmed Read Online Free PDF Page A

those eyes for months after the bombing. When he finally arrived back at the base stateside, he’d seen the man’s wife. Stanton wasn’t home from the hospital yet. He would spend months in recovery. Jessie was prepared to apologize to her for not being able to do more for him. But instead, she’d thanked him for sending her husband home, indifferent to the fact he would never walk again. That he would never run behind his son playing baseball or football, or whatever the fuck men do with their boys. She was simply thankful to have a portion of her husband back.
    Jessie didn’t want to share that story with the doc. Nor Antoine’s or anyone of the other dozen or so horrific tales that he’d witnessed while in hell. He had watched so many people lose so much, if they came back at all from that fucking war. A part of him wondered why he hadn’t been killed. He didn’t have children or a wife. It was just him. Jessie Workings came home a whole man, almost back to one hundred percent. Just a slim scar remained on his arm from the night that changed his life.
    A long time had elapsed between Dr. Orwin’s last question. Rather, three minutes according to that God dammed clock.
    “I want to talk about family,” Jessie finally said.
    “What about family?”
    “My mom wants me to get married.”
    “I take it that’s not what you want?”
    “I didn’t say that. I was just saying it would make her really happy if I got married.”
    “Let me rephrase. Do you want to get married?”
    “I don’t know. There’s a woman. I don’t know if she would have me. I just see her from time to time.”
    “Why wouldn’t she have you, as you put it?”
    “Why would she? I’m a jarhead. Semper fi ‘til I die, ooh-rah. And all that shit. I’ve seen what those women have to go through. Why would anyone choose that life?”
    “Love. People say love might make one do something a little strange. Perhaps even marry a jarhead.”
    As he entered the doctor’s office, Jessie had seen a picture on the wall of a young man in dress blues and a very pretty redhead. He knew that Dr. Orwin was military. He still didn’t want him fucking around in his head.
    “It’s been a long year and a half,” Jessie said.
    “Yet, you want to return? What’s there for you?”
    “Everything. It’s back here that causes the most grief for me. I don’t know what I’m gonna do here. If you don’t release me, that is.”
    “It sounds like you don’t think I will.”
    “How would I know something like that?”
    “You can’t. All you can do is talk to me. Which you are. Simple conversation. That’s all.”
    “Well, that’s good. Her name is Mavis.”
    “The girl?”
    “The woman. She’s been around forever. She’s never been my girl. Just someone that spends time with me while I’m here.”
    “I see.”
    “Time up yet?”
    “If you like.”
    “I would. Do I have to come back?”
    “Yes. I don’t know for how long. That part will be up to you. However, I must tell you, I will continue until I feel comfortable enough to release you from my care.”
    “And you don’t?”
    “No. I don’t. Of course, I haven’t cared for you yet. Tell me something. How are the nightmares?”
    “Bad. Until last night. Mavis spent the night with me. I don’t know if that helped. But, I didn’t dream last night.”
    “I see. Same time next week? And maybe we’ll make a full session next time, hmm?”
    Jessie looked up at Dr. Orwin. He had a little smirk on his face.
    “Yeah, maybe.” Standing, he leaned across the coffee table and shook the doc’s hand.
    As he headed for the door, he took a closer look at the wedding photo. As he suspected, it was the doctor and who he presumed was his wife.
    “I would have been married thirty years next month,” Dr. Orwin said, startling him.
    “Would have?”
    “Yes. She was taken from me by a disease called Guillian Barre Syndrome. Too soon. We must remember to allow ourselves love. For life is too