Dream: War Child

Date: 12/5/2016

My name was Daniella ‘Dani’ Mattheson. I was about 20 and a freshman in my college. I wasn't the most popular kid or the most well liked but I had some friends. I was just mostly a loner and outsider. “Have you seen the new guy?” my friend Cassy asked me as we headed to the food court in the mall near our campus. “Yeah but he's not really my type.” I told her quietly. I grabbed my usual tuna sandwich and drink before sitting down at a nearby table. The new guy was Talon James Roker, or TJ as he preferred everyone to call him. He had messy blue-tinted black hair that cut off just above his shoulders. His eyes were a faded blue-green coloring. He was one of those guy that was damn near perfect and I did everything to stay away from him as much as possible. “Dani, I hope you don't mind, but I invited Talon to join us.” my friend Avery told me as he waved TJ over. “It’s fine Avery. I don't hate him or anything.” I said and took a bite of my sandwich. I really didn't hate him. I was just terrified of getting close to him. TJ came and joined us and I did my best to welcome him with a smile. He talked to my friends and I occasionally joined in. It was fun. Something I didn’t often allow myself these days. “I'm gonna head home.” I said with a smile. “You should get a ride. The rain is bad tonight.” Avery suggested. “You don't live on campus?” TJ asked me. “No. I have a place of my own not far from campus.” I answered with a weak smile. “I can give you a ride home.” TJ suggested. Cassy nudged me subtly before saying, “Take good care of my Dani.” I just sighed and shook my head. “Ok. But I really need to get home.” TJ quickly finished his food and led me to his car. I was expecting something sporty. Instead he had a Chevy Blazer that looked like new despite the fact it was an old model. We got in the vehicle and I gave him the directions. Soon enough we'd gotten to my house. It was a small place but it was home. “You can come in if you like. From the looks of it my friends really like you.” I said and opened the door, stepping in. He locked up the blazer and followed me in. “But you don't?” “I...try not to get attached to people. Even my friends.” I answered honestly. I headed to the kitchen and made some hot cocoa to warm me up. TJ followed me and sat at the table. “Why not?” He asked. “Because I'm always afraid they'll leave.” I told him, mildly annoyed that I was telling him this. I heard a knock at the door and gave a faint smile. “Expecting someone?” TJ asked. I started towards the door. “No. He's usually unexpected.” TJ followed me back to the door and opened it to see my dad's friend, Sgt. Alexander Ross, standing before me in uniform. My heart clenched. “Sgt. Ross...why’re you here?” I asked as I motioned for him to come in out of the rain. “Hey Junior. Sorry for the unannounced visit.” He said before seeing TJ. “Is this a bad time?” “He's just a friend. It's fine.” I said and headed back to the kitchen. TJ went back to his seat at the table as I made another mug of hot cocoa. “Junior, I'm here about your father.” Sgt Ross began. I felt a tightening in my chest again. “We got him back home late last night...but the wounds he endured…” Sgt Ross trailed off as he recollected himself, “I'm sorry kid, he didn’t make it.” I felt the world shatter around me but did my best to stand strong. “I..understand. Thank you for telling me sir.” TJ looked between us as Sgt Ross handed me Dad's flag and the picture of us that dad always carried. Sgt Ross left and I clutched the flag and picture to my chest. I couldn't hear anything anymore. I was feeling the pain try to swallow me whole. “Dani...I'm sorry.” TJ whispered as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to him. All I could do was cry. My heart ached. My father was gone. A few months had passed. TJ had helped build me back up from that darkness but it still lingered. It would always linger. A lot of people in our city had lost loved ones in that last battle. That battle may have ended the war but the number of lives lost...it didn't make it easy. Cassy and Avery tended to show up at my place a lot to make sure I was never totally alone. Then the city had decided to do a ceremony to commemorate the fallen by letting those left behind (friends, family, etc) be able to speak up. So I found a way to skip class and get to the ceremony so that I could speak up. Sgt Ross drove me there himself, knowing I would want to be there. I stood with the others, media people were there. Only my friends had been told why I was depressed. But even they didn't know the whole story. Today people would. “Would the child of General Daniel A. Mattheson come to the podium.” The speaker announced. I took a deep breath and slowly let it out as I headed to the stage. I looked out to the crowd and clutched my locket tight. It held some of my father's ashes in it. “My name is Dani Mattheson, but many of you probably just know me as Junior. I am my father's daughter but our story isn't like most father-daughter stories.” I began. I saw Sgt Ross nod to me with a smile. “I didn't really get to know my father till I was 15. He had been deployed not long after my birth and the war kept him away. He wrote to me as often as he could though. We'd send each other pictures so we would be able to recognize each other...but pictures and words don't fill the gap so easily.” I clutched my locket again, knowing my father was with me. “I met him for the first time at 15. He and I went to the movies and talked about things we liked. I got to see my mother smile brighter than the sun. It was great. But he got called back. He was gone once more. Not long after I turned 18 I got my apartment and made sure dad had somewhere to stay in case he returned. He did for a few months. He taught me how to defend myself and drilled me on how to take care of my car. I'm really grateful to him. I may only have known him a short part of my life, but he has a big place in my heart and I know he's watching over me.” I could feel the tears falling down my cheeks now as I stepped down from the podium. I soon felt a warm hand on my shoulder and saw Sgt Ross standing before me. “I have someone who wants to meet you.” he told me before leading me to a woman with long raven black hair. “Hello Dani. My name is Lin Roker. I'm a commander who fought alongside your father. I've been looking for you.” the woman said. “why is that?” I couldn't understand why but her name sounded familiar. “The wounds that killed your father, he got by protecting me. He was a great man.” she told me. It was then that I noticed the cast on her left wrist and right leg. “He really was.” I told her. Lin held out a chain to me and I soon recognized what was on it. It was my father's dog tags and the wedding band from when he'd married mom. I took it and fastened it around my neck. “Thank you.” I whispered, trying to fight back the tears. “Because of your father, I can return to my son. I thank him for that. As well as you. You kept Daniel alive by writing to him.” Lin said as I felt a smile cross my lips. Not two moments later I saw TJ head over and wrap me in a hug. “You were great up there. See, I told you that you were brave enough to do it.” I felt my whole face turn bright red in embarrassment at that. “Wait...how'd you get in here?” TJ blinked and then gave a nervous grin. “Well, the woman you're talking to happens to be my mom. She brought me here.” I looked between him and Lin and felt my face heat up again. “No way!” TJ chuckled while Lin just smiled. “So you're that Dani. Now I'm extra glad I got to meet you.” Lin said before looking to Sgt Ross, “I'll make sure she gets home safe.” Before he could say anything I gave Sgt Ross a quick hug. “Thank you for everything.” I then followed TJ and his mom back to the car as they drove me home. TJ telling his mom that he was gonna stay with me for the day. I woke up after that.