by Gavin Wyatt

Created on: October 09, 2009   Last Updated: October 16, 2009

A Warning of Death in Iraq.

On the top of a 5 ton Humvee, near the western border of Iraq, the sandy road turned into a vast expanse beyond the river and date palm groves. With sweat pouring down his forehead, his body started to shake, slowly and uncontrollably. A sickness, waves of nausea, gripped his stomach as he felt a horrifying rattle against his chest. "It works? Oh God! Please let the rattle be from something else" He thought. He felt evil pulsing at his chest with knowing vibrations of his fate. Wisps of fire and death blew through his nostrils as if his worst fears had begun to show themselves through his sense of smell. Was it real? His legs shook and a small amount of urine ran down his leg. He felt the fear swallow his heart. The shaking was faint but enough for Lance Corporal Cantadores to notice something was wrong up top with Corporal Blalock.

"Blalock! You all right" the Puerto Rican Marine screamed up the "hell hole" towards his gunner. Above the roar of the 6.5 liter Turbodeisel engine, Corporal Blalock gripped his .50 Caliber machine gun, and stared into the distance trying to climb back into the hands of sanity. "This can't be happening to me" he thought as he finally grasped in his hands the reason for the vibrations in his heart. Held between his fingers was a black metal necklace that his cousin gave him the night before he was deployed. It had hanging on it, a black heart with a hole through the middle of it. He had said something about it being different. He said it would tell me if I was in danger of losing my life. The words were blown away in the wind.

He had laughed him off that night. It was quite a party, and probably the last time he was going to be with his wife for a while. She had taken him upstairs as the party started to die down, and last goodbyes were given. Both of them having had way too much to drink, they helped each other up the stairs.

"What is this baby?" She asked, touching the necklace dangling from is neck. Her smile was playful. Her laugh was still light. The realization that this could be the last night together hadn't hit her. She was always in the moment.

"Apparently, it will tell me if I am in danger." he said, laughing.

"Well baby" grabbing the necklace and pulling off of him above his head. "I think the only thing you are in danger of now is missing the opportunity to enjoy some time with your wife for the last time!" she whispered in his ear. "I agree, it might be a while, god I am going to miss you"

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