God Bless the U.S.A
By: Faith Adeline

I didn’t know anything. I didn’t know just how serious this was. I wanted to help my country; fight to protect the freedom I sometimes took for granted. But it wasn’t like I wanted to die! Bombs burst around me, screams filled the air. Everywhere people were being gunned down; soldiers and civilians. The stench of blood overcame me, it was horrible. I never knew this is what would happen to me, I didn't want to die like this. I wanted to die an old man, laying in bed next to Annalise, the love of my life.

I was nineteen years old, I hadn't even begun to live. I ran, ignoring the please for help around me. I was so close to shelter, so close to living one more day when something hit me. My hand flew to my stomach as my vision began to cloud. I drew my hand back, my blood covered it. I fell to the ground, the noises of war still ringing in my ears. I tried to block out the anguish, thinking of all the things that made me happy. I thought of Annalise and I walking in the park during the winter, snow gently falling down and coating her in an ethereal mist of white. She looked so beautiful. I thought back to our first date, we just spent the whole time talking about our goals in life, what we wanted to be. I didn’t know at the time that I would sign up for the army. All I wanted was to be with her, I didn’t want to die alone.

“Mitch? Mitch where the hell are you?” I heard someone in my group yell.

I didn’t have enough strength to mutter a word. I could feel the blood begin to leak out onto the ground, but I couldn’t let go. No matter how much I wanted to, I couldn’t let go. I had to stay, for Annalise. I could see her, I closed my eyes and there she was. I reached out, my arms wrapping around her. I could smell the faintest hint of rose; it was the shampoo she used still lingering on her hair. I ran my fingers through her chestnut colored hair, the scent drifting to me with every touch. I felt her arms around my back, holding me close to her.

“Mitch! Mitch!” The yells increased, interrupting my day dream, but I pushed them away.

I only wanted to focus on Annalise, nothing more. She placed her hand on my cheek, rubbing it softly. I thought back to the day I’d told her I joined. . .

She yelled, hitting me on the arm in the process. “Are you an idiot? You’re going to get yourself killed! What about me? What about us?” She cried. She raised her arm to hit me again but I grabbed it, then pulled her close to me; enveloping her in a tight hug. I kissed the top of her head and tried to calm her down.

“I’ll be okay. I have to do this baby, I know you don’t understand why, but I have to. You’ll be with me, you’ll be the one that keeps me holding on Anna.” I said.

“You better come back to me Mitchell Walters or I swear to God, I will kill you myself!” I couldn’t help but chuckle just a little. She leaned forward and kissed me, I rested my hand on her waist and told myself I had to be okay. I promised myself that I would survive.

Now I was laying on the dirt, covered with regret and broken promises. I knew I wouldn’t make it, in my heart I knew no matter how much I tried to hold on, I was going to die. I could already feel my life leaving, preparing to leave just a shell behind.

“Mitch? There you-what the hell?” It was Ryan, I could tell. We met the first day of training, he was my best friend here. He understood me, it was like I could tell him anything and he would understand. So, he knew all of my secrets, everything I’d done that I regretted. I felt him place something on the wound; applying pressure slowly. “Holy shit. Come on man. Wake up Mitch.” He slapped my face a couple of times, I moved my head away from his hand,groaning just a little.

“Good, stay with me Mitch. Hey, I need a doctor over here, we got a man down.” He said over his walkie talkie. “Yes, I repeat we have a man down. It’s uh, Mitchell Walter.”

I felt myself fading again. Annalise popped back in front of me. Tears streamed down my face. God I didn’t want to leave her. I held her close to me again, even if it was a hallucination from the pain; I knew it would be the last time I held her. I kissed her deeply, seeing as how it would have to last me a while. “I love you Anna, so much. I don’t think you could ever imagine just how glad I am to have you in my life.” I whispered. I knew I didn’t have long so I was trying to rush things. Tears came down harder, she wiped a couple away and kissed my cheek.

“Ssh honey. It’s okay.” She told me softly.

“No it isn’t. It hurts so much, the pain, it almost rips through me. But I have to hold on, I have to-”

“Hey, it’s okay! Listen to me-”

“I can’t. . . I can’t.”

“You can’t worry about what’s good for me Mitch, you have to focus on yourself.”

“But you’re a part of me Anna. I’ll always worry about you.”

She sighed and took my hand in hers. Then she placed her free hand over my wound. “I love you Mitch. I love you so much, I’m letting you go.” She removed her hand and I saw I was no longer bleeding. I saw she was now crying, I wiped the tears away from her ocean blue eyes.

“How?”

“Wait for me Mitch, don’t forget me!” She pleaded.

Now, it was my turn to console her. “ Ssh, you don’t have to worry about that. I will wait for you for forever, and I will never forget you. When you die, an old lady in your bed, I will be there. Waiting for you at the end of that bright light. You’ll see me, uniform and all. Got it?” She nodded her head.

“Goodbye Mitch.” She gave me another kiss, then began to walk away, but I pulled her hand.

“Wait! I love you Anna! I will see you again, I promise! I will wait for you!”

“I know, I love you too. Until we meet again.”

I pulled her close, giving her one last kiss. Then she was gone. I was left standing over my bleeding body. Ryan pulled my closer, applying more pressure to the wound.

“Mitchell, come on man! Give me a pulse Mitch.” He shook me, then took out his walkie talkie again. “Where the hell is that doctor? No I need him now!” He slammed it onto the ground, going back to trying to revive me.

I could’ve went back, but I knew I shouldn’t. It didn’t hurt anymore. All my pain was gone. I was gone. . . I watched as Ryan shed a tear, crying out my name. I watched as the doctor finally arrived, too late, loading me into the Red Cross van. I watched as my mother got the news. She fell to the floor, holding my picture in her hand. “Mitch, no not my Mitch!” She cried. I wanted so much to console her, tell her I was okay. When Anna got the phone call, she cried. . .but, she knew. She told my mother that she’d had a dream with me in it. And that I was hurt and dying; that she told me it was okay to move on. That she knew I would wait for her. I guess God was giving me one last goodbye.

My funeral was wonderful. I smiled when I saw the other soldiers bear arms and twenty-one salute me goodbye. My mother and Annalise burst into tears as soon as the last bullet fell. Ryan walked over and gave Anna my dog tags, telling her he knew I would want her to have them. As soon as the smoke from the guns cleared I saw a line of people in the distance. I noticed as they got closer, they were other soldiers. Some from World War I and II, some from Vietnam. There were even some from my group. They were all there to welcome me to wherever I was going next. Some patted me on the back and told me they were proud of me, that I did good.

I am not a number. I am not just another person in a death toll. My name is Mitchell Walters, I’m nineteen years old. If I could do anything, I’d hold Annalise in my arms, just one more time. We always say that, don't we? Give me just one more time, just one more hug, one more I love you. When the truth of the matter is, even after that one time, we'll want one more.

I loved to play the guitar for my girlfriend and sing her to sleep, not that I sang well. The love of my life is Annalise Hunter, I’ve loved her since I first laid eyes on her in the ninth grade. When she sat next to me and read me one of her favorite poems. When I was younger, I always got into trouble, I had my terrible twos until I was around fifteen. I could argue with you for hours about something I thought was right. I never changed my opinions for anyone. My favorite subject was English.

During my senior year I joined the army to help protect my country, and that’s what I died for. I died for freedom, for honor; like so many who’ve fallen before me. I died to protect everyone around me. My family, my neighbors, hell even the people I don’t even know. If you see someone pass you on the street, know I died for them. Even though they probably wouldn’t die for me. I died fighting people who were harmful to my country. I died for you. All the rights you have, the freedom, I died so you could keep that liberty. Because that’s what a soldier does. . A soldier retains all the morals and values the United States is built on. My name is Mitchell Walters, I am part of such a strong family of our national defense. . . I am not a number. . . And I pray that God always bless the U.S.A.

A/N: Another old short story of mine. I like it, so thought it deserved to be put up here. Thanks for reading, if you did. Please review and let me know what you think!
Faith