Tragically Wounded Read Online Free PDF

and your father close?"
    "Yeah," he smiled, "He was my best friend and biggest supporter. After he died, things changed. Mom became paranoid that I'd get hurt or end up dead. She hardly let me out of the house and when she did, I was on a short leash. It was impossible to have a girlfriend," Sean laughed. 
    "Where is she now? Your mom?" I asked, taking a sip of my water.
    Before he could respond, our waitress arrived. We quickly placed our orders and resumed our conversation without missing a beat.
    "She died of breast cancer shortly after I was deployed. I didn't even know she had it. We weren't exactly on speaking terms."
    "What happened?"
    "She didn't approve of me joining the military. She said that it was suicidal and she wouldn't support a decision that would end my life," Sean said sadly with a shake of his head, "I hate I didn't get to say goodbye and I hate that things were so strained between us, but serving our country was something I had to do. It was a choice I knew would make my father proud."
    This time I was the one to reach over and take his hand. I gave it a gently squeeze and smiled at him. "I'm sure your father would be very proud of you right now."
    "Thank you," he whispered, bringing my hand to his lips and kissing it again. "What about your mom? Are you two close?"
    "Not as much as we used to be. After we found out my dad had a new family, she went into a depression and then things really spiraled out of control. She was drinking a lot. Then she started parading different men through the house, sometimes two men in the same night."
    I paused for a moment to collect my thoughts. I couldn't believe I was telling him all of this. The only person who knew any of it was Toni, and the only reason she knew was because she'd been around when it all happened.
    "When I was old enough to be on my own, I told her what I thought of her lifestyle. We still talk and she comes to my performances, but it's nothing like what it used to be."
    Our waitress returned with our food and we ate in companionable silence for a few moments. I didn't really eat much. I was too enthralled with Sean and his stories; and how he seemed genuinely interested in me. I really wanted to ask him about Afghanistan, but I didn't know if that was inappropriate. He'd lost a leg over there. It was probably the last thing he wanted to talk about.
    "You mentioned you had a sister?" he asked.
    "Yes," I nodded and wiped my mouth, "She's seven years older than me and lives a few hours away with her new husband. We talk regularly."
    "I don't have any siblings. At times, like now, I wished I did. I have a couple of cousins, but that's about it. I'm all alone," he said with a nervous laugh.
    It was on the tip of my tongue to let him know that he wasn't alone, that he had me, but I didn't want to say anything that might lead him on because I still wasn't sure if I was ready for a relationship with him. "That must be hard."
    "It was at first, but I'm adjusting. There were times right after my injury that I didn't know if I could make it on my own. But the guys at the VA center are like family. I don't think I would've made it through this without them."
    "What happened?" I asked, and then quickly added, "If you don't want to talk about it, I understand."
    Sean smiled. "No, it's okay. I've been told it helps to talk about it."
    He paused to take a drink, and I folded my arms on the table, eager to hear what he had to say.
    "There were four of us travelling in a Humvee and we were hit by RPG."
    "An RPG?" I interrupted.
    "A rocket propelled grenade," he smiled kindly, as if my naivety was cute. That would normally upset me, but it didn't bother me this time, "All three of my companions were killed. A piece of shrapnel was lodged in my calf and I was pinned beneath what was left of the Humvee for hours. That was probably what saved my life, because if I'd been exposed…" He shook his head. "Anyway, by the time I was rescued, there was no way they could save