CAROLINE
B
reakfast was quiet,
and the Army ration tasted worse than usual. Staring blankly into space as I shoveled food into my mouth, I couldn’t seem to get rid of the frown on my face. Sitting next to me on the couch, James was tense and distracted, and I swallowed my bite harshly before opening my mouth.
“Are you going to be okay, James?” We’d avoided talking about my departure since we woke up, and I winced at how shaky my voice was. If I was being honest with myself, I didn’t feel comfortable leaving James alone. I’d only just began to scratch the surface of what haunted him, and now I was leaving. My gaze flickered to the satellite phone that sat on the coffee table, and I pursed my lips together.
Last night, after James fell asleep, I had half a mind to call my dad and tell h
