The Parting: A Dark Christmas

Dark clouds rolled into Jack’s life. He knew several people in Afghanistan whose spouses or girlfriends left them. Sometimes, they weren’t nice about it either. They wrote hurtful letters and the soldier was left broken hearted in a place filled with anger and violence. He saw the hurt in their eyes. He saw a bulletin board fill up with pictures of the unfaithful people. Now he couldn’t shake the feeling that Charlotte hooked up with Bob. Regardless of what Charlotte said, he had his doubts.

He still had been unable to find a job and that only added to his depression. So the darkness continued to encroach in on the edges of his mind. He found it easier to dwell on violent thoughts. His mind naturally drifted that way. The real problem was that there was a nagging feeling that his self worth was falling. Maybe he wasn’t worth Charlotte’s love. He did things in combat he didn’t like to remember. Part of him felt guilty for threatening Bob and he hoped his mother wouldn’t hear about it. He was sure she would. Not that Bob would say anything but there were other people in the restaurant who might mention it to her. Nevertheless, he would sit and think to himself that he dared someone to say something to her. He would show them if they did.

He dreaded going to church on the Sunday before Christmas. He knew all the songs that would be sung and he knew Bob would do a special number. He didn’t want to see or hear any of it. The Christmas spirit was far from him. As he and his mother and brother drove up to the church, Jack could feel the level of disgust rise in him. Oh God, how he wanted to stay home by himself.

As he expected, they played the same old songs and Bob did a special rendition of O Holy Night. The only thing that he liked was a rock and roll version of a couple Christmas songs played on iPads. That was different and kind of fun.

Pastor Bob mentioned how he loved this time of year and what a blessing it was the God sent His son to earth as a baby and that he would eventually die for us. Dying for someone else was something that Jack understood but shortly after that, Jack started getting sleepy and nodded off a few times. Between his head falling and his mother poking him, it was hard to get any sleep.

Riding home afterward, both John and Nancy spoke glowingly about the sermon. Nancy felt a growing apprehension for her oldest son. John had his concerns also. How could they reach him? After lunch the following day, Jack planned to visit MIA. Nancy asked Jack to remind MIA to come for a visit some time. Jack said he would.

MIA’s car was in the driveway and though Jack knocked and rang the doorbell, MIA didn’t come to the door. Jack figured MIA and JoJo must have gone out somewhere so he called JoJo to see where they were and he would meet them. JoJo answered the phone on the second ring and there concern in his voice immediately. JoJo mentioned he spoke with MIA earlier and MIA seemed more distraught than usual. Jack walked back to the front door while they spoke and tried the door handle but it was locked. He peeked in the windows but saw nothing. He went around to the back door but it was also locked and he saw nothing in the windows. The garage door had an opener and Jack could not open it. A sinking feeling crept over Jack. Dread gripped him. He knew something bad had happened or would happen soon if he didn’t get inside.

Jack couldn’t decide whether to break in the door or just wait for JoJo to arrive since he had a key to MIA’s place. JoJo arrived after Jack finished trying the garage door and, shortly thereafter, the two of them entered MIA’s house. As soon as they opened the door, they smelled the fading but familiar smell of cordite. Their senses were instantly hyper sensitive. JoJo found the body first. He started shouting at MIA, cursing him for being so stupid. Jack stood behind JoJo crying. Tears were streaming down his face and he didn’t care if JoJo saw him. His friend was dead; a casualty of war just as much as any of his friends that died in Afghanistan.

Jack felt his heart drop in his chest. It could be described no other way. A profound sadness came over him and it felt like his heart moved to another part of his chest. Jack knew, he was now a broken man. He could take nothing more. He was spent. Christmas or not, He was done.