Post by Kai Rose on Jan 17, 2021 21:20:51 GMT -8
Kai's entry into her home wasn't graceful. No, she stumbled in, half-drunk and half-asleep, the end of a harrowing night of revelations and danger just behind her. It was over. The shock and surprise of feelings and ghosts and adrenaline was over. Her breath was ragged, uneven as she tried to calm it down, tried to look forward in the dark to see the switch, the hallway, the lamp it's overit's overitsover...
The illumination from the bulb was brutal, bright and surgical. The cheap faux crystal reflected it harshly into her eyes and she squeezed them together, looking away, seeing razor-sharp edges on the glass and the refractions that moved from white to rose to pink
to red
the surgeon knew the red?
crystal and clean
she stumbled into the glass-covered shelf, dragging the door open, reaching into a little black box the size of a postcard. she stared at it, letting herself stagger to the left, to the couch, a place to fall, a place to rest, a place to lock in and remember
fall
Pillows. It was cold, cheap leather, but when she grasped the wool blanket and opened the little box, she remembered
Her hand wrapped around the metal star
for gallantry in action while serving with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines in action against the enemy in Operation Starlite during the Vietnam War. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Marine Corps
"God, I miss you."
What a night to need it. What a night to be here, on the couch with this medal. Kai's head lolled back against the couch cushion as she held the Silver Star against her heart, remembering the proud moment when he had been presented the Silver Star long after the battle had ended, long after the records were declassified, long after war's end and peace began. Tomorrow, she'd got to a cenotaph. Tomorrow, she'd remember --
The illumination from the bulb was brutal, bright and surgical. The cheap faux crystal reflected it harshly into her eyes and she squeezed them together, looking away, seeing razor-sharp edges on the glass and the refractions that moved from white to rose to pink
to red
the surgeon knew the red?
she stumbled into the glass-covered shelf, dragging the door open, reaching into a little black box the size of a postcard. she stared at it, letting herself stagger to the left, to the couch, a place to fall, a place to rest, a place to lock in and remember
fall
Pillows. It was cold, cheap leather, but when she grasped the wool blanket and opened the little box, she remembered
Her hand wrapped around the metal star
for gallantry in action while serving with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines in action against the enemy in Operation Starlite during the Vietnam War. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Marine Corps
"God, I miss you."
What a night to need it. What a night to be here, on the couch with this medal. Kai's head lolled back against the couch cushion as she held the Silver Star against her heart, remembering the proud moment when he had been presented the Silver Star long after the battle had ended, long after the records were declassified, long after war's end and peace began. Tomorrow, she'd got to a cenotaph. Tomorrow, she'd remember --