There was blood everywhere....

 "Take cover, everyone!!!" someone yelled. 

I didn't know who but I recognize it. I crawled through the dirt, debris and kept going not seeing anything up ahead. It was smoke, dirt and gun powder in the air. I could barely breath.

 I kept crawling. 

Something was lying ahead of me. I felt my hand go up to feel it. It felt like a fellow soldier's shirt but he was lying stiff not moving.... 

Not even breathing....

 I felt around him and found his rifle. 

Checked if it was loaded. I moved ahead to get a safe cover from the fire going around. 

My right leg was shot...

I am pretty sure some of my ribs were broken...

I had a bullet go through my left ear...

I also had wound on my neck, must be a knife wound, and a lump growing on my head which was bleeding furiously...

 I don't know whether I am going to survive tonight...

I missed my mum's birthday a week ago. I didn't call to wish her and say that I loved her. God I wish I had done it.

I have a lot of regrets. I wish I had done all those that I wanted...

"Adam!!!!!!" someone called out. 

I looked right to see who called out my name. Nike had his left eye wrapped in a black handkerchief, bleeding shirt which had 3 distinct bullet holes. He was crouched next to a burning jeep, signalling me toward him. 

Beside him, Lore had his arm gun trained on someone up ahead, shooting. I changed my direction and headed towards them. Suddenly Lore jerked and yelled, "Grenade, GET DOWN!!!!!!!!"

- Present -

I woke up with a jerk, sweating and panting in the bed. I had the same nightmare for days now. 

Trips to the therapist has not been that beneficial. Of course our CO said that it takes time to get over the horrors of the battlefield. All do......

I waited to stabilize before waking up to workout. I had found that physically exercise was good for nightmares. I was totally in tune when working out and found myself detached from the world. I got up, cranked out knots on my joints. I padded towards my kitchen for a glass of water and headed to my makeshift gym for my morning workout.

~ Later ~

45..

46..

47..

I counted...

48...

49...

Suddenly I felt a vibration on my left leg pocket. I got my cell phone out and saw Nike calling me. I cut the call and kept it right back. 

I don't like when people disturb me in the middle of my workout. Sometimes it was the only time when I felt like myself, and not a wounded, defeated man with nothing. Military was my everything, my home, my family apart from my parents and siblings, colleagues who became friends and brothers thicker than blood itself. The day I got injured and declared not healthy for service was the day I lost everything. 

Hey, of course I was compensated for the same and it was a nice sum. But money is not everything.

I felt my cell ringing again. It was Nike. If I don't pick up again, he will call 911. I'm sure. Because he did it once.

I was taking a shower after a workout, just normal schedule. My leg was aching extra that day so I took a soak with hot water to heal it. I had my phone on my table and didn't hear it. Of course my melodramatic friends took it as a sign of my falling to PTSD and committing suicide. 

God knows where they get these ideas. Yes I'm suffering but I won't commit suicide. I have to do a lot of things..... things which I decided on that day. I won't have any regrets when I die. 

Anyway, I didn't heard the Phone ringing and my friends took it as a signal. You know... the one with complete Cuckoo-koo voice. So they went ahead and called 911. And they came to my door steps knocking on my door. Which I missed as well since I was too into my bath.

So even policeman took it as a signal. 

Again...... sound the Cuckoo-koo voice. 

They broke down my door, my fine, precious, custom made door and one of them did a forward flip, and landing on the feet with gun in their hands, shouted TOUCHDOWN!!. I saw all this because when they were brutally massacring my precious, they made enough noise wake up the whole neighborhood.

First I thought of a thief breaking in, so I grabbed my handgun... one which I hid under my sink and headed out without clothes and completely wet.

So naturally my first thought was Idiot!!!

And second thought was Shit! My clothes??!!. 

And from their expressions his first thought was Shit! He is Okk!!

And second thought after looking down was Ohh my God!!! Stop waving that thing at my face. 

I know that because first his eyes resembled tea cup saucers....

Then face down... 

Then face up... 

After which his eyes resembled flying saucers and then he went green... 

I don't know why? 

I mean I was well endowed but there was no need to get so awed by my impressive stature. When I told my Mama about this incident, she made a sound which felt suspiciously as a laugh. I didn't get it.

Anyway it was sorted out after that.

The medics who accompanied the police, gave me recommendations for therapists, which I didn't need and told them that...

The police who broke my precious, gave me recommendations for strip bars and clubs, which I didn't need and told them that...

My friends who called 911, gave me recommendations for my new door, which I didn't need and told them that...

My Dad who was contacted by his old colleagues in police, gave me recommendations for new fragrant bath lotions, which I didn't need but still took it down for future reference.... (Hey, Don't mock me until you try bathing with it)... 

My Mom who was told by my Dad about the incident, sent me her baked blueberry muffins which I desperately needed..... (So What if I have a Sweet Tooth??!! What you gonna do?? Sue Me??)...

So Long story short, I took Nike's call.

"Hey!!", Nike called out jolly, "You still in bath?"

"That was one time, why don't you bastards let it go", I grumbled, "What do you want??"

"Well I wanted to know whether you can attend today's meeting with Mr Potter? Do you have anything else??", Nike asked his usual cheerfulness.

I suddenly became wary. Why was he asking me this? 

I look a bit scary and my size doesn't help. So, People behaved in a very awkward way when I talk to them.

Makes me feel like a Delinquent asking for Lunch Money from them...

So when the question rose in our conference on who will deal with the clients, my friends (my partners at my new venture).... all of them voted exclusively not to hand over the job of speaking with Clients... Against me!!! Cruel betrayers!!

I may have pouted through the whole meeting but I feel I am fucking fantastic. 

If people don't want to talk to me, it's their bad luck on missing out the awesome gift God blessed this earth with. 

In case you are wondering... It's ME.

"I have a -

10.30 at Cinemax mall for installing security applications - 2 hours

12.30 at Ronald Apartments - 2 hours

2.30 Lunch

3 at Office to review tapes from Lore for the Theft case

And 5 going to bank for review of our loan. I just have this task list for today."

"Wowww", Nike exclaimed, "You have a lot of work."

"Yeah, I can't come with you since it will mess with my schedule...", I nodded and said solemnly, "Don't mess with my schedule, you know I hate it!!" I warned. 

Take that, You Betraying Bastards!!!

"I won't but to tell you the truth I need you today to take this appointment", Nike said seriously, "and anyways, I just need you after 5, so just replace your Bank appointment with this one."

"Why?? I don't get it.", I asked curiously, "You can go alone right?"

"Well, no. You have to go....alone.... All alone", Nike replied and coughed along lightly.

Now I am intrigued. 

Well well how the mighty have fallen... 

"I can't.", I replied curtly.

"I have food vouchers for Night Hill, if you go to this meeting with the client!", Nike immediately replied.... A little desperately.

"Hmmm..." I mulled over it. 

Food in Night Hill was delicious and it's pecan pie was god gift on earth, after me of course!! 

I nodded and thought to my self, patting my back again for being so cool.

"It's for a full month. They will provide lunch to you for a month complete with desert!!!!!", Nike smoothly assured, "I need not tell you about their pecan pie, right?!?!"

Now that sounds interesting. Whole month lunch from Night Hill. It was my favorite restaurant. It was new so it was not so crowded but I can foresee it will grow to be a big franchise.

"Ok, I will do it!" I agreed, completely satisfied at my great negotiation skills.

Nike started laughing loudly over the phone and said, "Ok, I will message you the location, ask for Mr Hunter, Ok??"

Growing suspicious, I hesitantly replied "Ok..."