Summer of 2005

Joe stepped out of the cool, dim building and into the bright oven that waited beyond the tinted doors. Joe glared up at the sun, irritated by the heat that was radiating both from the celestial body, and from the pavement beneath his feet, rising in shimmering waves. Joe wore the least amount of clothes that was acceptable in the world of the military. Joe slid a pair of sunglasses on and crossed the parking lot to his car, switching on the cooler to full blast as soon as he was settled. He growled under his breath, waiting for the first icy fingers to tickle the sweat rolling down his neck.


Joe hated Summer. The long hot days and muggy, bug filled nights. Hated Summer for the memories. Alec had died during the Summer of '89. Joe had spent that Summer in a daze, mindlessly walking from place to place, no brother for company; he felt hollow, incomplete without him. He caught himself turning to ask Alec a question, only to realize that he wasn't there, and never would be again.

Joe was glad that he was finally off base, he had put in for two weeks leave, and since there appeared to be no pending minor wars that his team would inevitably be shipped off to, his request was granted. Joe slipped an old CD from the visor above his head; it was faded and had many scratches. Joe slid it into the player and cranked up the volume. Music blasted into the cabin of his car, numbing his body from the vibrations, and numbing his mind, from the sheer volume. It was a CD that he and Alec had listened to, the only one he had kept.

Joe pulled onto the interstate after a brief stop at his apartment to pick up his bag, he was headed to Montana for two weeks. A place to relax, remember, and make peace with himself once again. He was heading home.