LOVE AND WAR ( A story of peace and blood)

o stay afloat. The muddy water pulled him down with every kick. His lungs screamed for air, his heart pounde

hoked out, but the murky

y engulfed his head, the last thing John remembered was the

dark

ng violently as he shot up from the ho

on his shoulder. "You're safe now. You were found unconscio

ed the white room, and panic gripped him

ets and was on his feet, staggering toward the hallway. She tried to hold him

s beeping, doctors whispering. Then John froze. A stretcher rolled pas

gasped, runn

rgency room doors slammed shut. "You can

s. His knees weakened and he slid to the floor, t

carried the weight of the world. Wandering the halls, he

tkins, his head heavily bandaged. A doc

mbled. "My son...

. "John's going t

ed, sitting up despite th

wife, Louis... she's in critical condition. We're doi

no... please. Save her. She's all I have," he whi

doorway and saw John standing there, sh

eakly, stretching out his ar

nded by grief something changed. The anger between them melted away, replaced

n Queens, s

hbors gathered outside the house. A woman from next door had called the police when she

peared into the van. Tears poured from her eyes like rain from a storm-heavy s

a, both frozen and sobbing. "What ha

nees. "Mom... Mike... he-h

ake! I didn't mean to! I just want

ed her arms around him, sobbing into his shoul

ng back. "Officer, Take him,"

st their grip. "No! Please! Don't do

door slammed. And the wails of regret follow

ch step a reminder of what was now gone. She opened the bedroom door where she a

in the pillow still smelling of him. Her cr

her cheeks. Her hands trembled, her heart cracked. She stared into no