The coach looked at her.
Then, me.
And in silence he said:
“Ask him what happened in Fallujah.”
The room was completely silent.
FOURTH PART — THE MAN I BURIED
Claire followed me outside.
“Cole!”
I kept walking.
“Cole, wait!”
I stopped.
She caught up with me.
“What did he mean?”
I turned around.
“You never asked me.
“Did you ask what?”
“On my knee.
“You told me it was an old injury.”
“It was.”
“What happened?”
I looked at her.
“I was deployed.”
She looked.
“I knew you were in the military.”
“You knew it was good.
“I didn’t know...”
“You never asked me.
His eyes filled with tears.
I wasn't angry.
That surprised her.
Maybe I was surprised
also.
“Not you
I told it all because I wanted a normal life.”
She whispered:
“What happened?”
“I lost the people.”
He covered his mouth.
“My knee was damaged. I spent months recovering. When I got home, I didn’t want to be that guy anymore.”
