All the Cuts and Scars We Hide by Garry Michael

Thirty-Three: Wyatt

This Soldier Is Finally Home

Four Months Later

The streets of Kabul were quiet and all I could see was smoke curling around the war-torn street. An image appeared at a distance and a silhouette of a man emerged. I hurried toward him, placing my arms around him, “Jim!”

“Hey, Wyatt,” he pulled away and looked at me.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.”

“I know you are buddy, but I’m okay now. I am in a better place,” he said, the solace in his voice was a contrast to the fear and pain I used to know. “Kai is a keeper,” he continued.

“He is and I love him. I finally know how it feels to be happy,” I admitted.

“I can see that, Wyatt. You deserve to be happy after everything you’ve been through.”

“Thank you, Jim. I wish you could’ve met him.”

“Me too. But Wyatt?” he paused and put his hand on my shoulder. “You’re gonna have to let me go now.” Jim backed up before I was able to say anything. He was right, I needed to let him go.

“Until we meet again brother,” I whispered.

***

The light coming from the full moon beamed through the window of our bedroom, giving the place an ethereal glow and cast shadows on Kai’s beautiful face while he slept. His features were softer when he was sleeping.

He shimmied a bit before he turned to lie onto his side, using his left arm as a pillow.

I held my breath, careful not to make any noise because I didn’t want to wake him. This new angle of him allowed me to cherish at all of him, a habit I’d never tire of doing. His long eyelashes were resting on his cheeks and those red lips of his seemed to have a smile plastered to them permanently. I was tempted to kiss him so I could feel them once again, but for now, I was satisfied to just watch him.

Slowly, Kai opened his eyes and those gorgeous light brown eyes met mine. They seemed to have lights of their own as they sparkled even in the dark. The sight made me feel breathless. “Some people might call that creepy,” he said, referring to me watching him sleep. His smile widening.

Jesus! How can someone be this beautiful? “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to freak you out.”

“What is it?” he asked.

“I had a dream about Jim. He was alive and in a better place.”

Kai scooted closer and rested his head on my chest. “That’s different from the ones you usually have,” he said while placing his hand on my chest. His thumb caressing gentle circles, soothing me.

After my impromptu visit to Hawai’i months ago, I was open with Kai about my dreams and therapy sessions. It had been scary at first, but I needed him to know the horrors I was experiencing and how I was trying to heal. I was so thankful that he still wanted me after showing him all the cuts and scars I hid. “It was. I think he was letting me go too.”

“How does that make you feel?”

“You sound like my therapist,” I teased before continuing. “It makes me feel free if that makes any sense.”

“It does, baby,” Kai looked up and kissed my jaw.

“Let’s go back to sleep, we have an early day tomorrow.”

“I love you, Wyatt.”

“I love you too, Kai.”

“Uncle Wyatt, can I take this with me?” Elijah asked while he showed me his colorful kite that matched his life vest.

“Of course, bud. Uncle Kai can help you later,” I told him and he ran to the boat dragging the small kite on the ground.

“I can’t believe we’ve never done this,” Elizabeth squeaked, unable to hide her excitement. She hooked her arm around Avery who just finished loading the food for the cruise. We were about to celebrate the grand reopening of our new office with our families. Kai’s innovative designs were awe-inspiring with ocean and island-inspired touches.

Kai’s parents, who insisted on me calling them Ma and Pa within two days of meeting me, were in town with Mikaela and Lei. “I don’t know, but I’m glad we’re doing it now,” I said, standing behind Kai with my arms wrapped around his neck and nuzzling the back of his head. It was my favorite thing to do with him… well my second favorite.

“Is everything loaded?” Kai asked, kissing my forearm.

“Yup, we just need to wait for everyone to get here,” Avery answered. “Wyatt, by the way, Foster will be in town next week and he’d like to meet up before his schedule gets busier.”

“Who’s Foster?” Kai asked Avery.

“He’s one of our good friends. He’s a professional snow skier. Like pretty kick-ass,” Avery answered.

“He skis for Canada though, that traitor!” I joked.

“Right?” Avery agreed. “Anyways, you want to just meet up at our place, since you and Kai are still in the middle of moving?” he continued.

Kai and I had decided to move our relationship to the next level and agreed to move in together a couple of weeks ago. It took a lot of bribing, including tech lessons from Kai, to get his landlord Sam to let Kai out of the six-month lease he’d signed when we got back from Hawai’i four months ago. “That’ll be great, thanks,” I said. “Wait, he doesn’t want to go skiing, right? We suck at skiing.”

“No, he doesn’t. Besides it’s been too warm for skiing,” Avery answered.

“I don’t know… that guy seems to always find a place to ski, regardless of the weather,” I argued.

“I’ve always wanted to try skiing,” Kai said.

“You’d hate it. You’re not a big fan of being cold. Don’t mention it to him though,” I warned.

Avery chuckled and shook his head. “Okay, I’ll tell him that we will all meet at our place.”

“We picked a great day to do this. It’s chilly, but at least the sun’s out,” I said, and looked around the water and the dock. I remembered the place where Kai saw me that fateful night that changed the rest of my life. That evening seemed like a lifetime ago when I looked back on it. I still have attacks occasionally, but with Kai around, I can take all the madness the world can throw at me. He was the beacon that guided me when I was lost at sea.

“You okay?” Kai turned around to face me, his cheeks were red from the frigid winter breeze.

“Never been better,” I answered and wondered where everyone had gone. “Where is everybody?” I asked. I’d been so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t noticed they’d hopped onto the boat.

“Elizabeth wanted to keep an eye on Elijah, so they went in and joined Mrs. Turnley, Sam and the Three Musketeers,” Kai explained, pressing his lips on mine. “I love you, Lance Corporal.”

“I love you more, Kai.”  I zipped up his jacket to keep him warm because he was shivering a bit from the cold.

“Not possible,” he argued.

“Where do you want these carrot cupcakes?” Andrea asked when they arrived.

“Carrot muffins,” Pete corrected.

Kai shook his head before answering. “You can bring those cupcakes inside,” he said and pointed to the catamaran.

“Aloha boys,” Ma and Pa called, waving to get our attention as they’d just arrived at the office. We hurried and met them at the entrance to the dock. Since winter tourism was slow, we ran a limited sailing schedule which meant I had more time to spend with Kai.

“Mijo,” Mrs. Martinez called, just when we reached Ma and Pa. She and Jim’s father were also celebrating with us.

After I’d kissed Ma and Pa, I went to meet Mr. and Mrs. Martinez so I could help them with the baskets of fruit they’d insisted on bringing even though we’d told them that we had plenty of food for everyone.

“You look great, Son,” Sophia said after hugging me then passing me to Carlos once she released me.

“It’s true Wyatt, you do. Thanks for inviting us over,” Carlos added.

“Of course, I wanted you here. Why don’t you go ahead, and I’ll meet you over there,” I pointed to the boat.

I stood back as I watched everyone, including Kai, join Elizabeth, Avery, and Elijah on the boat. It wasn’t the family I was born into, but I was so thankful for the one I chose.

Kai turned around and a warm smile crossed his face.

I knew then that this soldier was finally home.

-The End-