Chapter 32

David did so and gasped. “Your Purple Heart. You sure?” With trembling fingers, David touched the medal.

“You already have my heart. This is just a promise that I’ll return as soon as I can.”

Bud walked silently to the door. He paused, but didn’t turn round.

David watched his man, his Marine, his main reason for living, walk out of the door and slowly close it behind him. He heard the small click as the catch re-engaged, the sound of Bud walking down the hallway, and a few moments later the front door opening and then closing.

Reaching for Bud’s pillow, David curled himself into a ball and wept.

10

“It’s not fair, it’s so not fucking fair,” David shouted before collapsing to the carpet.

Corey and Peter picked their friend up and took him back to the bedroom. Peter called a doctor friend of his, who made a house call to give David a shot to sedate him.

Waking the next morning, his head fuzzy with sleep and confusing images of the previous day, David sat up in bed.