Chapter 2

Two years later...

Ben awoke, unable to remember anything. He surveyed his surroundings. His uniform suggested he was in the military, though he had no recollection of joining. There was a burned out Humvee about 10 yards from him, with a few bodies lying around it, all dead from the looks of it. Three to be exact, two men and one woman. She was the one leaning against the Humvee. She looked at peace. Ben heard engines coming from the other direction, more Humvee's. They came to a halt a few yards away with soldiers pouring out in the ready position, scattering out into formation to form a perimeter around him and the other bodies.
He looked up to an older man, looked in his early 40's, gray sideburns and a dark, dirty tan from what looked like years of combat, leaning over him on one knee telling him "It's going to be all right soldier, we're taking you home." Ben stared back at him for a moment, before looking back over at the bodies.
"I'm afraid they're gone Ben, you did all you could son." The man then leaned back up, and with a motion of his hand, four men came rushing toward Ben, placing him on a stretcher they had folded out. Within a moment he was on it and they were carrying him to the back of the middle Humvee. They slid the stretcher in the back and Ben was met with two sets of eyes staring down at him, studying his injuries.
"Ok now soldier, time to go to sleep." Ben's eyes became dull, he tried to fight the drugs pulsating through his bloodstream, but they proved too much for his aching body and he finally succumbed to them, passing out within a few seconds.
"How serious are his wounds?" "He's got a serious gash on the side of his head, but he'll live."

Ben awoke again. This time in a hospital bed. His head was bandaged and he could only see out of one eye, still he felt better than last time he woke up. What in the world happened? Am i still dreaming? Who am I? Ben looked down at the end of the bed to see a beautiful woman, lying asleep on a chair. Her nametag read Belicia. Pretty name. Was he supposed to know her? And if he did, in what capacity? Sister, girlfriend, or wife? Something about her felt familiar, but faint, very faint. Like the last echo you hear before it vanishes away, never to be heard again.
"H-hello?" he said, barely able to speak.
Belicia's eyes opened, and quickly realizing where she was, she turned and looked to see him looking at her.
"Ben, you're awake!" she exclaimed as she jumped out of her chair and into his frail arms and kissed him passionately on the lips. then quickly leaned back up, looking a little awkward.
Definitely not sister... "Where am I?"
"Oh Ben, you're in Darnall Hospital, in Fort Hood. You were injured pretty badly in battle."
He looked at the ring in her hand and then up to her face, which was smiling.
"I'm sorry for saying this, but I don't know who you are."
Belicia looked a little surprised, but shook it off and smiled back down at him.
"I'm sorry, I'm Belicia, a friend." Ben could feel a hint of sadness in her voice as she spoke. "I'm gonna- I'm going to go get the doctor for you ok Ben?"
"I'll be here waiting." Ben said, smiling then closing his eyes to rest some more.
Belicia smiled back, turned, and walked away.