Page 2 of Life After Levi

“Okay, Mama. I help feed the cows.”

I giggle because my sweet girllovesgoing to her grandparents’ house. They have a small farm, with chickens, cows they raise for beef, and a few fields of corn. “Do you think Memaw will let you help her get the eggs today?”

“I hope so, Mama! Chickens is funny.”

“That they are, sweetie, that they are.” I don’t correct her grammar since she’s finally talking. Most of her milestones were on target except for her speech. Worried, I took her to her pediatrician and after a few visits with a speech therapist, I was told she’d start talking my ears off when she was ready. Well… she’s ready and definitely yaks up a storm. There’ll be time enough for her to be taught the nuances of the English language.

* * *

“You’re doing well, Emerie,”my instructor praises as I pack up my bookbag and prepare to head to work. I’m already dressed in my uniform of jeans and a polo shirt, so I’ll be ready to start my shift when I arrive. I’m actually very fortunate because both the school and my employer extend grace quite frequently since sometimes, class bleeds into work and vice versa. I’m grateful that my dispatch counterpart is good with getting overtime when I need her to cover for me.

“Thank you,” I reply.

“Just a few months left, and you’ll be ready to take the state exam. How are the ride alongs going?” she questions.

In order to get the clinical hours needed to be able to take my state certification exam, I’ve been doing ride alongs with an ambulance crew in Maggie Valley. Once a week, I meet with my instructor at the school, and we cover the critique sheets that the crew fills out on me. So far, I’m doing pretty good, since I take every opportunity to work on any skill they feel needs improvement. Plus, I try new things as they come up, since every shift I find myself shocked and surprised by something I’ve never seen or heard stories about before. Still, it’s job security for us, so I don’t complain at all.

“I think they’re going rather well. Shane, the crewmember I shadow the most, has been very patient and helpful teaching me. That first week, when I had to get an IV in, I thought I had chosen my career path incorrectly, but he showed me the easiest way to get it done. He’s also taught me a lot about handling patients who are distraught over their situation, as well as how to deal with their freaked-out families. I definitely understand that for them, it’s the worst day of their life. My job is to ensure they’re medically stable enough to get to the hospital for further care.”

Hopefully alive, although a few of the patients we’ve transported have been close calls. Still, I know eventually it’ll happen. I feel confident that my own experience with grief will help me be compassionate and caring.

“They really enjoy having you, Emerie. Keep up the good work and don’t forget to work on your study guide,” she replies. “Have a good night in the dispatch center. Hopefully it remains calm.”

I grin because she didn’t say the ‘q’ word which anyone involved in any aspect of being a first responder is superstitious over. “I will and I’ll have some new pictures of Levinia most likely since she’s out at Levi’s folks’ house.”

“You better,” she teases. “That little girl is absolutely precious.”

“Yeah, she is. Thanks again, Mrs. Simmons. I really appreciate all of your help.”

“It’s what I’m here for, Emerie. What makes it an absolute pleasure for me is how you’ve taken to it like a duck takes to water.”

I’m grinning and full of pride as I head to my car so I can get to work. I’m not crazy about working the third shift, but thankfully, it’s done on a rotational basis between all of the dispatchers. Except Pauline, she’s a lifer on the night shift, which is good for me because she knows just about everything and isn’t afraid to jump in and help when the need arises.

ChapterOne

Damien

“This is stupid. So, so stupid,”I mutter to myself as I carefully drive along the curvy mountain roads. “He probably never even mentioned me to her.”

Levi was my bunkmate when we went through basic training, and we quickly became the best of friends. When he died, I nearly left the Navy, but had to honor my commitment. Now, however, after being honorably discharged due to injuries that would prevent me from performing at one hundred percent, I’m heading toward the tiny town he came from so I can meet his Emerie and bring her the things he had for her that he never got to bring home. Hopefully, she’s moved on from him, but somewhere deep inside, I suspect she hasn’t simply because of how he used to regale me with stories of the two of them growing up in Possum Creek.

I finally pull into the parking lot of a small hotel in Possum Creek, where Levi’s family lives and where I hope Emerie still does as well. I don’t know if she’s moved away from town or not, which is why I’ll stop at Levi’s parents’ house first. As I get out of my truck, I can hear water, so I walk toward where I see a railing then look out. I’m immediately captivated by the view in front of me. There’s a creek behind the hotel, flowing along over a variety of rocks and boulders, with the greenest foliage I’ve ever seen. I can hear birds chirping and the air is so fresh and clean, I find myself taking deep breaths as if to soak it all in. As pretty as the scenery is, I decide to check in and get some rest. The drive was a long one and my constant internal struggle over whether or not I was doing the right thing has wiped me out. It may only be late afternoon, but I’m still recovering from my injuries and that, coupled with my nerves, has me longing for a short nap.

* * *

I wakeup thinking that I slept for a few hours only to discover it’s daylight outside. I think that’s the longest I’ve ever slept since before I was sworn into the Navy. Hell, I got used to catching an hour or two here or there, and if I was able to string four hours together at one time, I thought I’d won the lottery. Getting up, I stretch, grimacing at the ache in my left thigh where a titanium rod now resides in place of my shattered femur.

At least you still have your leg,I think.They wanted to amputate, remember?I grimace at the reminder because while I would’ve dealt with that particular hand, I know from others that amputations that are done at the hip are harder to learn to use a prosthetic limb, and I’m still too active to want to spend what’s left of my life in a wheelchair. It may happen when I get older, but hopefully, that’s years and years away. I feel if I’m as active as I can possibly be, I’ll stave off any talk of becoming non-ambulatory.

As I make my way into the bathroom to take care of my morning bladder before I jump into the shower, I send up thanks once again that my leg was saved. I was definitely close to losing it, but thanks to some awesome doctors who fought for me since I was unconscious, I’m willing to deal with the occasional aches and pains. Yesterday’s drive didn’t help, but I know once I get moving, it’ll get better. Worst case scenario, I’ll take something once I’m done with my errands. Probably should’ve done that yesterday but I didn’t expect to sleep the rest of the day and all night. I’ll just take some Tylenol to hold me over until I’m back, since what I’m prescribed usually knocks my ass out.

Once I’m showered, I decide to walk around since my weather app says it’s nice outside and see if I can find someplace to grab breakfast. There’s plenty of time to reach out to Emerie since Idohave Levi’s parents’ address. I wasn’t able to attend his funeral but made sure to send a plant to his parents in his memory.

Fuck, do I miss him. He was so damn laidback it was almost as if he was sleepwalking through life. Nothing phased him at all, which meant he survived Hell Week with flying colors. He’s one of the reasons I made it through as well, because he would remind me over and over again that their job was to try and break us while ours was to survive so we could fight for our country.

“Have a good day, sir,” the motel receptionist says as I walk through the lobby on my way to hunt down some food.

“Thanks.”

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