Apology

Jason can feel Katie’s arms around him…can feel her touch against his skin, bringing a comfort only she can give. Her soft voice is soothing as Jason’s mind races with thoughts of everything that’s happened the last few days, along with his past. The tears slowly begin to subside, until his eyes are dry and pure exhaustion has set in.
The sleep assumed is a strange rest, as if an invisible veil keeps the memories and images from invading, if only for a few short hours, allowing his mind to drift freely, empty of horror, safe in protective arms.

Dawn breaks. Small streaks of sunlight find their way around the curtains, casting light into the room. Jason stirs. Ever muscle in his body aches, and he doesn’t even want to move. But as alertness seeps into his consciousness, he begins to realize where his head is lying. Opening his eyes, he knows he’ll never admit that he’s never felt in a more comfortable position. But an element of embarrassment overshadows any relaxation. Jason’s not even sure what happened during the night. He knows he’d had one of the worst nightmares ever, and he vaguely remembers Katie coming to him. But after that it was a blank.
His face reddening just a little, he rights himself, rubbing his face wearily. “Aw, Katie,” he mumbles. Not able to remember everything, he just hoped he hadn’t said or done anything regrettable. At the very least, he’d put Katie in an awful position. He wasn’t even fully dressed. “I’m so sorry.”


Cindy sits in the mess hall with a coffee mug cradled between her hands. She’s one of the first ones up, and finds herself alone. The night had been long. She hadn’t gotten much rest…she’d thought of her son almost all night, and still wasn’t sure why. She’d thought of him…thought of her house being gone…thought of the future. What really was going to happen now?