No Man Left Behind: A Veteran Inspired Charity Anthology by Elizabeth Knox (black authors fiction TXT) 📕

deployment were pictures of my dog. I got her as a puppy and when I went on deployment, my parents took her in. I never got her back.

“Do you have everything for Mystic?” She points at the carrier I have with me. My cat.

“I’ll go to the store when we get home,” I tell her.

“Nonsense. We can stop on the way,” she says.

My dad nods.

When I told them I was getting out, they told me I would always be welcomed at home, even with the cat. And Bug and Mystic get along, so that’s a plus. I settle in for the drive, thinking about the day I got both puppy and a kitten and I smile for the first time in months.

Chapter Two

Sienna

Ten years ago . . .

I’ve never been away from home for longer than a day. It’s been longer than a few days, going on a few years. Growing up in a small town never prepared me for life outside of small-town USA.

It weighed on my heart that I couldn’t be there to help with the farm or go grocery shopping for my grandma. Two years and I’ve seen more than most of my friends will in a lifetime, dead bodies included. It starts to weigh on you and I need something to look forward to.

I guess that’s why I’m in a pet store, not quite sure what I’m looking for.

“Hey, soldier, we got some new puppies,” the man behind the counter calls out. I guess he’s talking to me since I’m the only one in the store and I’m in uniform.

“Okay.” He takes me back to a room and in the corner is a pile of black and gray striped puppies.

“The color is called brindle.” He points out as he must see the curiosity on my face.

“They’re cute.” Right as I say that one comes waddling over and I know she’s the one, she picked me. Not that the others aren’t cute, but this little girl picked me out of seven boys and girls she’s the only one who even woke up to take notice I was there.

“Oh my, you’re a cutie.” With her little scrunched nose.

“They’re a pug/Boston terrier mix,” he informs me.

“I’ll take her.” I smile at the bundle of joy that throws up on me.

The man chuckles. “Might be from the deworming medicine.”

“I’m going home anyways. Not a big deal.” I wave him off as he goes and collects the food she’s been on. I browse the store and I know right away she’s going to be spoiled.

“I put the food by your car,” he says as I hand him my credit card. I know you’re supposed to adopt not shop, but she needs a home too and I already love her.

“All set.” He waves as I walk off, carting a dog bed behind me. Don’t know why I bought it; she’ll be sleeping with me.

Once we get back to my apartment, I let her sniff around as I put out food, water, and potty pads. I watch as she tries to jump on the couch, and I can’t help but laugh because she can’t quite make it but she keeps trying.

The love of a dog can change your whole outlook on life. I guess in a way like children do with parents. I had something to look forward to whenever I left for work. And I had something to live for, to come home to.

There were a few times where I wanted to end my life because life is rough. Life has been hard on me and my mental well-being has been put through the ringer. Not even my soldiers know about what I’m feeling. And I don’t want them to know, I don’t want to bring them down, I want them to excel, to be better than me, to gain rank, to just thrive.

But now with this little bundle of joy, I’m happier than I have been in a long time.

Chapter Three

Sienna

Present Day . . .

I can see that Walmart hasn’t changed, meaning it’s where people go to congregate in this town. We’re not even to the front door and we’ve been stopped five times. I get it, it’s a small town and people want to see how I’m doing, see if I’m whole. I’m not but I keep smiling.

We finally make it to the pet aisle, and I pick out a few things, just to get me through the week. My parents still have a schedule and every Friday my mom goes grocery shopping for the next week. I figure I’ll need some stuff, like soap and hair products by then. I travel light and have maybe enough to last through the week.

My mom wants to browse the aisles to make something for dinner, not just any dinner, my favorite—dumplings. If you haven’t had dumplings, you’re not living.

“You’re here.” I hear from behind me and I instantly recognize her voice. My best friend from childhood, Ava.

I spin around and plaster a smile on my face. “Yep, just got back.”

“You didn’t call me.” She pouts.

Ava is a bit of a drama queen. We’re exact opposites. She’s outgoing and I’m the quiet wallflower. I guess that could be one reason no one thought I would make it in the military. Joke’s on them, though.

“I was going to in the morning. We stopped for litter and cat food.”

“Oh, I get to meet the famous Mystic?” She chuckles.

“Yes.” I nod.

“I’ll call you in the morning and we can set up lunch or something.” She waves to my parents and gives me a hug, I try not to stiffen up. They won’t understand why I don’t want to be touched; I don’t even understand it myself.

“See ya.” I wave as we round the corner, ignoring the looks from my parents.

I think my dad understands, but my mom, she’s always been the hugging, welcoming type.

My few friends loved coming over to my house because my mom would make cookies