Chapter 1
The Beginning Of Nothing
The Beginning Of Nothing
Gently, she revolved the mint polo on her tongue. She flicked it between her teeth with her tongue, crunched it into many pieces and swallowed it. Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, she impatiently stood up and scanned the room. A cream rug covered most of the pale brown laminate flooring. The curtains matched the colour of the wood and so did the shelves above the double bed. Blood red, crisp sheets lay neatly on the edge, ready to be made. As her eyes swept the room, her final glace took in a walk in wardrobe. A mental note in her head told her to investigate that later), a small bedside cabinet which bore a carefully sculpted lamp and a book. She walked forward. Wuthering Heights gleamed in black letters on the front. There were more books on the shelves. Little Woman, Oliver Twist, Black Beauty, What Katy Did Next, The Magic Faraway Tree, Beatrix Potter… “Old classics” she thought. Casually, she hovered over to the window and took in the breath taking scenery. It was sunset, she loved sunsets. They reminded her of her daughter Summer. She was a beautiful girl. She had waist-long, blonde hair that was slightly wavy and a long sweeping side-fringe. She had blue eyes like her father. A pang of guilt thudded through her when she thought of Tommy. Possibly never going to see his only daughter grow up to be a young woman. Somewhere in Iraq, he was fighting for the rights of his country. Such a brave and selfless thing to do. It had been only two months but it seemed like a year. And it made her want to see him so badly. Summer was suffering badly too. She hardly ever went out anymore and could spend hours pouring over books or listening to music on her iPod with the same song on repeat. She couldn’t imagine how she could do it. It would drive her mad, but she always said to herself, as long as Summer was happy then she was too.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t hear the door open and someone cross the room to lean on the window beside her.
“Beautiful evening isn’t it, baby?”
She jumped slightly but at the sight of the man standing there she spoke bitterly,
“Leave me alone, Earl. I don’t want to talk to you”
Surprisingly, he didn’t look hurt at these words; he just rolled his eyes and pulled an expression as if to say he had heard this before. He was her ex-councillor and ex-boyfriend before she married Tommy. He was appointed to be her councillor after Tommy went away and after one session it was too much for her so she asked to see someone different. But he still came back and trying to persuade her to get back together with him. She despised him greatly. A new figure appeared in the doorway.
“Are you causing trouble again for her again, Earl?” It was a woman’s voice. She walked into the light and they both took in her startling appearance. She wore black jeans that clung to her skinny legs and black boots. On her top-half she wore a red crop-top which revealed her belly-button, and was pierced with a bright red ring. A denim waist-coat hugged her figure perfectly. Her hair was cropped short into a bright blonde bob that complimented her sparkly green eyes.
“Katy!” The woman ran forward to hug the other woman standing next to Earl.
“What have you done to her, Earl?” The woman asked defensively round Katy.
“Nothing, it’s fine, he was just leaving” Katy hinted subtly. Earl took the hint and swaggered out the door, pausing to wink at Katy. She snarled in disgust and he chucked and left. The woman turned to Katy with a smile on her face,
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t hear the door open and someone cross the room to lean on the window beside her.
“Beautiful evening isn’t it, baby?”
She jumped slightly but at the sight of the man standing there she spoke bitterly,
“Leave me alone, Earl. I don’t want to talk to you”
Surprisingly, he didn’t look hurt at these words; he just rolled his eyes and pulled an expression as if to say he had heard this before. He was her ex-councillor and ex-boyfriend before she married Tommy. He was appointed to be her councillor after Tommy went away and after one session it was too much for her so she asked to see someone different. But he still came back and trying to persuade her to get back together with him. She despised him greatly. A new figure appeared in the doorway.
“Are you causing trouble again for her again, Earl?” It was a woman’s voice. She walked into the light and they both took in her startling appearance. She wore black jeans that clung to her skinny legs and black boots. On her top-half she wore a red crop-top which revealed her belly-button, and was pierced with a bright red ring. A denim waist-coat hugged her figure perfectly. Her hair was cropped short into a bright blonde bob that complimented her sparkly green eyes.
“Katy!” The woman ran forward to hug the other woman standing next to Earl.
“What have you done to her, Earl?” The woman asked defensively round Katy.
“Nothing, it’s fine, he was just leaving” Katy hinted subtly. Earl took the hint and swaggered out the door, pausing to wink at Katy. She snarled in disgust and he chucked and left. The woman turned to Katy with a smile on her face,
“I’m your new councillor!”
“Wow, Becky, you haven’t changed a bit” Kay stated. Both of the women laughed.
“Nice place” Katy managed to say once they had calmed down, “You did well”
“Yes, I guess. But I’m not married yet” She pulled a mock-sad face and held up her left hand to show a bare finger, “How’s your hubby?” Katy’s face fell and Becky noticed. Her arm was instantly around her shoulders.
“What’s happened, babe?” Becky’s sympathetic face made Katy want to cry,
“He went out to Iraq… about two months ago” Katy’s voice quivered. Becky’s green eyes locked onto Katy’s blue eyes with understanding swimming in them. She took her hand and squeezed it,
“It will be okay, babe. It will be okay” Even with these comforting words, a few tears scurried out from the corners of her eyes and ran down her pale face.
“You think so?” Katy managed to murmur.
“I know so” Becky replied softly.
“Wow, Becky, you haven’t changed a bit” Kay stated. Both of the women laughed.
“Nice place” Katy managed to say once they had calmed down, “You did well”
“Yes, I guess. But I’m not married yet” She pulled a mock-sad face and held up her left hand to show a bare finger, “How’s your hubby?” Katy’s face fell and Becky noticed. Her arm was instantly around her shoulders.
“What’s happened, babe?” Becky’s sympathetic face made Katy want to cry,
“He went out to Iraq… about two months ago” Katy’s voice quivered. Becky’s green eyes locked onto Katy’s blue eyes with understanding swimming in them. She took her hand and squeezed it,
“It will be okay, babe. It will be okay” Even with these comforting words, a few tears scurried out from the corners of her eyes and ran down her pale face.
“You think so?” Katy managed to murmur.
“I know so” Becky replied softly.
Chapter 2
Shadows
Shadows
Tommy sat in the vector. Silence pulsed through his body like an electric shock wave. Shadows crept passed him outside. He twisted his neck around slowly, and scanned the area in the dim, foggy light. They had just had contact with a small patrolling troop. Screaming bullets flew past them. The sound of dozens of GPMG’s thudded in his ears. Shock waves upset the still sand and it swirled around them. They were investigating a new found area in a desert in Iraq. The many towns they had passed today already were normal activity. This one was different. It had looked deserted. In one of the other vectors William Richardsons was at the GPMG, yelling commands. 2 Section filed out of the vector, RPG’s flew towards them. Screams were heard. Bailey Matthews fell in the mist of the explosion; body parts flew several hundred feet from the explosion. Smoke twisted through the air.
Andy ran over to where Bailey’s body was. One of his arms and legs had been blown to pieces, all the hair on his face singed off and blood seeping from his wounds. Andy yelled into his receiver, “4 section sort out casualties. I have times 2 Tango One, I repeat, times 2 Tango One. 1 Section clear the buildings, and the rest of 2 Section look for RPG’s on east side” Blood flowed from the gaps where Baileys’ arm and leg should be, it stained the sand scarlet and the colour bled into his uniform. Andy searched in his trouser pocket for the morphine syringe. Two men from 4 Section came to help him. Bailey was writhing around on the floor, screaming and kicking up the sand into their eyes. Andy passed the syringe to Ryan from 4 Section and he injected it into his leg. Bailey stopped struggling. Burns from the explosion covered every patch of skin on Baileys face. A medic had reached the other casualty that was screaming and clutching his maimed feet inside his twisted and melted boot. The number of casualties had already been relayed to the Medical Emergency Response Team where a doctor would be in a helicopter, trying to receive details the wounded.
Andy ran over to where Bailey’s body was. One of his arms and legs had been blown to pieces, all the hair on his face singed off and blood seeping from his wounds. Andy yelled into his receiver, “4 section sort out casualties. I have times 2 Tango One, I repeat, times 2 Tango One. 1 Section clear the buildings, and the rest of 2 Section look for RPG’s on east side” Blood flowed from the gaps where Baileys’ arm and leg should be, it stained the sand scarlet and the colour bled into his uniform. Andy searched in his trouser pocket for the morphine syringe. Two men from 4 Section came to help him. Bailey was writhing around on the floor, screaming and kicking up the sand into their eyes. Andy passed the syringe to Ryan from 4 Section and he injected it into his leg. Bailey stopped struggling. Burns from the explosion covered every patch of skin on Baileys face. A medic had reached the other casualty that was screaming and clutching his maimed feet inside his twisted and melted boot. The number of casualties had already been relayed to the Medical Emergency Response Team where a doctor would be in a helicopter, trying to receive details the wounded.
Every limb in his aching body was completely numb and cold despite his uniform. This was more than just a drill, this was real and scary.
Slowly, the gunfire ceased and night fell. Stars littered the sky. They laughed and twinkled to each other they gazed down at the world. Desperate figures watched them appear then fade, appear then fade. The moon shone dimly and lowly in the sky.
Chapter 3
The New Beginning
The New Beginning
“Is the difficulty sleeping still present?” Becky inquired.
“Yes” Katy sighed. He reply was long and slow. Almost like she was clinging onto every letter and afraid to let it go.
“Well, let’s try this knew technique,” She paused, “Ok, lie down on the bed and position yourself comfortably. Now imagine yourself on a beach, walking along in the shallow water. The water is relaxing and you are the only person there,” She paused again to let Katy think about what she had just said, “Now imagine that you are lying down on the sand and in water is gently rippling over your motionless body. You feel very clam and relaxed. Keep breathing deeply” She waited five minutes watching Katy perform these instructions.
Checking her watch, it read 10:30pm the standing up; she decided it was time to leave. Quietly, she backed out of the room and tip-toed down the stairs. She had agreed to let Katy stay in her house whilst she was going through the training. Summer had a room also in her house. Becky wanted to keep am eye on them both, she very quickly had realised that they needed help. And soon.
“Yes” Katy sighed. He reply was long and slow. Almost like she was clinging onto every letter and afraid to let it go.
“Well, let’s try this knew technique,” She paused, “Ok, lie down on the bed and position yourself comfortably. Now imagine yourself on a beach, walking along in the shallow water. The water is relaxing and you are the only person there,” She paused again to let Katy think about what she had just said, “Now imagine that you are lying down on the sand and in water is gently rippling over your motionless body. You feel very clam and relaxed. Keep breathing deeply” She waited five minutes watching Katy perform these instructions.
Checking her watch, it read 10:30pm the standing up; she decided it was time to leave. Quietly, she backed out of the room and tip-toed down the stairs. She had agreed to let Katy stay in her house whilst she was going through the training. Summer had a room also in her house. Becky wanted to keep am eye on them both, she very quickly had realised that they needed help. And soon.
…
Becky studied her watch. It was nearing 11pm. The television was muted and the soundless pictures created an eerie presence. She peered around the room. Shadows danced on the walls encasing a discarded book in blackness. She picked up her half drained coffee mug and drank the last of it; the mug had left a circular stain on the wooden table. Sighing deeply, she turned and picked up her book from the floor next to the sofa and placed it gently on the table. It was placed quietly, but managed to sound very loud in the emptiness of the room. The adverts on the television had just finished and the program ‘Faulty Towers’ appeared on screen. Becky stared at the box in a trance. Suddenly, an ear-piercing scream was emitted from upstairs and Becky snapped out of her trance. She flew up the stairs with one word on her mind. Summer.
…
Becky sprinted up the staircase towards Summer’s screams o terror. She almost collided with Katy on the landing and they both entered the room. She looked like she was having a fit, her arms were thrashing and her legs were kicking. Becky picked up the glass of water on the side and tossed it over Summer. She woke in an instant with a strangled cry. Tears were crawling down her cheeks and she was murmured.
“Come with me, Summer. Katy, go back to sleep. Summer will be fine with me,” All Katy could do was nod and she floated back into her room. Becky took Summers’ hand and led her into the ‘Calming room’ as she called it. The room was painted a peaceful pale blue with one wall made up entirely of mirror. On the opposite wall there was a huge window that let plenty of light into the room. Candles sat on all the shelves and lavender smelling incense sticks took their place on the window sill. On top of the fluffy white carpet there was a circular blue rug in the middle with a little table just outside the circle. Becky led Summer in to sit on the blue rug, then Becky sat down opposite her cross legged. A single box of tissues was placed on the table, Becky passed a few over to Summer who had tears streaming down her face. Becky waited calmly for her to settle down and then she spoke,
“What happened, darling?”
It was a few moments before Summer replied.
“I dreamt, I was there, fighting beside Dad, and... he was shot… and there was blood… I didn’t know what to do then someone dragged me away and I was being pulled through darkness,” She dissolved into more floods of tears. Becky sat there for a moment, how impossible is it to convince a child that it was just a dream when it could easily be reality? She thought.
“Come with me, Summer. Katy, go back to sleep. Summer will be fine with me,” All Katy could do was nod and she floated back into her room. Becky took Summers’ hand and led her into the ‘Calming room’ as she called it. The room was painted a peaceful pale blue with one wall made up entirely of mirror. On the opposite wall there was a huge window that let plenty of light into the room. Candles sat on all the shelves and lavender smelling incense sticks took their place on the window sill. On top of the fluffy white carpet there was a circular blue rug in the middle with a little table just outside the circle. Becky led Summer in to sit on the blue rug, then Becky sat down opposite her cross legged. A single box of tissues was placed on the table, Becky passed a few over to Summer who had tears streaming down her face. Becky waited calmly for her to settle down and then she spoke,
“What happened, darling?”
It was a few moments before Summer replied.
“I dreamt, I was there, fighting beside Dad, and... he was shot… and there was blood… I didn’t know what to do then someone dragged me away and I was being pulled through darkness,” She dissolved into more floods of tears. Becky sat there for a moment, how impossible is it to convince a child that it was just a dream when it could easily be reality? She thought.
After an hour of meditation, talking and relaxation methods, Summer was finally asleep. Becky was shattered. She checked on Katy and saw that she was happily asleep. She padded to her room quietly and quickly dressed into her Pyjamas. She slipped between the cool sheets and closed her eyes.
