My Name Is Caleb

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« Caleb! why’d you close it!! »

« You guys should really forget about what’s going on in the outside and focus on your sleep it’s going be a big day tommorow »

Here i was, wondering why I had to be the one telling grown men to go to sleep. Since i joined the army last year pretty much all of my days we’re going like this: Train then eat then train then eat then sleep, without forgetting being picked on because of my frail body. Fortunately, being with Marco and Zayne made the routine less tiring. Having met Marco way back in high school days, i already had a great bond with him. I hate to admit it, but we probably clicked so well because he reminded me of the little brother i never had. Always needs advice, smiles so much it that it becomes annoying and i stopped counting all the times he got us in trouble, but i loved him. However, Zayne, was a much more recent bond. He had been in this division a couple years before we came and he taught me and Marco everything we know once we joined. Everyone around here respect him because of his skill and the charisma he has with it. If every soldier fought like he did, we wouldn’t need the crazy stuff our country came with.

My thoughts we’re interrupted by Marco’s bear-like snoring. I looked at him, smiled, and fixed his blanket back on his body before deciding to get some sleep myself before our deployment in Irak tomorrow.

4:30 am

Our waking time was due in an hour and i still haven’t closed an eye. Tommorow would be my first deployment. I will probably see people die...cause people to die...or even worse...die myself. It doesn’t matter how many times i try to convince myself otherwise but, i wasn’t ready. I had to put on a hard face just so Marco wouldn’t notice it. His dumbass would’ve probably have tried to make me quit.

Anyways, It was way too late to be scared about the next day so i closed my eyes and confied my worries to fate.

« Wake up soldiers! »

Captain Kirk familiar shouting woke everybody up in a matter of a couple seconds. Fortunately, i suceeded in catching up on some sleep before it happened. Still halfway into another sleep session, i could feel my friends energy while we we’re gearing up.

« I can already hear the sound of my camaro’s roar » Marco said.

« Your stupid ass is probably hearing your snores from last night » Zayne replied

« Why you’re so tense pretty boy? Are you worried about what’s your girlfriend back home is doing in between mornings » Marco laughed off to avoid Zayne’s dirty look.

While i was putting my pads on, someone from another division started speaking to me.

« Big day, isn’t it?» he calmly said.

I took a second to analyze him. He was young man around my age but a little shorter than i was. Something felt odd about him but weirdly, i already felt comfortable around him.

« Yes indeed » i replied

« You’re shitting yourself right now, aren’t you? »

« Wh-Why would you think that? »

« I can tell by the way you forgot to put your flak underneath your vest,but don’t worry, it’s normal. »

« Who are you? » I defensively answered while fixing my equipment.

« Oh sorry i completely forgot, name’s Arthur »

« My name is Caleb...but why are you even talking to me?» i let go while shaking his hand

« I don’t know...you feel like the most normal person here »

The captain’s orders broke the silence Arthur’s answer left then we started moving again

« See ya, Caleb. » Arthur said while heading towards the ship posted by the coast.

This interraction left a bitter taste in my head while i was finishing with my preparations. What did he mean by that? I didn’t give it too much attention to it and proceeded to take three deep breaths before joining Zayne and Marco already sitting in the ship.