“We found him hiking down the road on the way back. He’s looking for one of the news reporters. Sarge thought you could point him to the tent they’re staying in,” Kaminski answered.
“What the hell were you doing hiking down the road?” the man asked.
With a sigh, I began my story of how I had come to be walking toward the Iranian border. As the man’s scowl grew deeper with each minute, it suddenly occurs to me that it could look like I was trying to join one of the Jihadist groups that terrorize the area. That’s just what I need, a new life at Guantanamo.
Quickly I try to assure the man that my intentions are honorable doing everything but breaking into the national anthem. Though, I’m not beyond that as an option. Fortunately before that can happen, the officer finally holds up his hand to stop me from saying any more.
“You must be fucking crazy,” Officer Brown, according to the name on his uniform, informs me. “But, come on and I’ll take you to their tent.”
Quickly shaking Kaminski’s hand, I follow Brown out into the night. Stopping outside of one of the tents farther in the camp, Brown calls out. “Ms. Shieffer, can you come out here, please.”
“Yes, Captain Brown?” says an older woman as she steps outside the tent.
“This kid claims to be hunting for one of your people,” he responds, sticking out a beefy thumb toward me.
“Hi, Ms. Shieffer?” I say, stepping forward as I recognize her name with my hand extended. “My name is Teddy Bennett. I’m looking for Sophia Wright,” I say as she tentatively slides her hand into mine. Suddenly her eyes light up in recognition.
Suddenly her eyes lit up in recognition. “You’re Sophia’s Teddy,” she says with a much heartier handshake than I thought possible at her age. “She’s all but given up hope of hearing from you again. How did you get here?”
“Yes, ma’am. It’s a long story and my phone disappeared weeks ago or I would have made this a little less of an adventure. Please, can you tell me if she’s here?”
“Oh my goodness, yes,” she says, suddenly spurred into action. “She was starting a card game in the mess tent when I left her.”
“This way,” Captain Brown said, turning around.
I follow him with Ms. Shieffer close on my heels as we cross the compound to the meal tent. Ducking through the door, I freeze trying to take in what I’m looking at. Sophia is there, but she’s being held down by some man. Without thinking, I fly into action, grabbing the man off of her. No way my Sophia would allow any man to assault her like that.
There is a satisfying crunch of bone as my fist meets his nose. He goes to the ground and I follow him down. I manage to get one more shot to his face before I’m jerked off and placed back on my feet. With one more swing, I land an uppercut to his abdomen, bending him over at the waist.
Two strong arms grab on to me as I struggle to get in another swing at him. As the red in my vision clears, I can see that the MPs have the fucker in their grip, so I relax slightly.
Turning around, I find Ms. Shieffer is holding Sophia as she sobs into her hands. That motherfucker, I’ll kill him! But when I spin back around, I find he’s already been hauled off. The soldiers take hold of my arms again, but I don’t think they’re that concerned since it’s obvious I can shake them off. Before I can storm out the door in search of him, Captain Brown lays one of his big hands on my shoulder, motioning with his hand behind me.
Ms. Shieffer asks Sophia if she knows me with a smile on her face. She has just assured us that the douche, Jay I guess his name is, won’t come anywhere near her again. Even though I’m still angry enough to rip this base apart with my bare hands, I can’t help but smile when Sophia slowly picks her head up to look at me. She studies me in disbelief as if I’m some kind of desert mirage. I’m a little surprised she can even recognize me with my greasy hair and scruffy beard, but I can see in her eyes she knows exactly who I am.
8
Sophia
“Do you have any idea how hard you are to find?” he asks as I slide down off the table facing him.
I would refuse to believe he’s here, but only my Teddy would make a joke about appearing like a mirage out of the desert. I blink twice, trying to make sure he’s real. It would hurt too much if he is just a dream.
“I figured it out, baby.”
I run the few steps, sobbing as I jump into his arms. “I knew it was you, Teddy, even if my mind couldn’t put the pieces together.” Tears start to pour down my face again or maybe they never stopped.
“How did you know it was me?” He chuckles.
I cup his face in my hands, scanning his eyes. They look tired.
“I would know that mouth anywhere.”
He laughs even louder as he slowly slides me back to my feet. Looking around, his eyes finally come back to mine. “Are you alright? I show up just in time to find some douchebag with his hands all over you. Nobody is allowed to touch what’s mine. Learned that in the boy’s home. If you don’t pay enough attention, someone will swoop in and take it from you.”
Suddenly not able to be near enough, I pull him to me in a desperate hug. I can feel myself finally breathe when his strong arms surround me.
“No one will ever take me, Teddy. I’ve always been yours.”
