Letter 6
CJ,
I’m not offended. You’re right. War is dumb. End of.
War is unjust.
War isn’t glorious.
War is chaos and misery and pain.
War is loss.
Being a soldier is somehow what I imagined and somehow not. And even though your letters can be jarring because you ask tough questions… you ARE a reminder.
It’s easy to forget what home looks like when you’re deployed. I don’t need a care package - thank you, though - your letters are exactly what I need.
The internet informs me that selenite heals, promotes peace, mental clarity, and well-being. Those are great things to emanate. Nothing to be ashamed of at all. And I pinkie promise you that I won’t ever tell a soul about the crystals, especially not Z.
(I admit I’m curious about the ‘Z.’ Is she a Zoe? I can’t help think that’s obvious though, so maybe it’s Zara?)
I went deeper into this brujería stuff than I should have. A part of me is wondering if I stayed with this ex I once had because she bewitched me. Honestly, we were so bad together that the only reason I stuck around could’ve been because she pulled some witchery on me.
In fact, I feel better knowing this, so thank you!
My poor decision-making processes in the past had nothing to do with being young and had everything to do with witchcraft. I’m joking, I’m joking! Don’t come at me with your Warheads.
Though, my best friend back home is in this fucked-up relationship with this bitch and she’s definitely the kind who’d hide her panties in his coffee jar. In fact, when I visit, I might just check his kitchen.
Seriously, brujería is helping me rationalize a lot of things in my dating history.
Back on topic, fave candy has to be Mackintosh toffee. Kinda old-fashioned, I guess, but I really love it. It reminds me of my uncle (on my father’s side). He never left the house without a pack of toffee on him and he’d share it with us. Us being my two brothers and me. I have three, but the third was practically a baby when our uncle died. After he passed, it took me a while to eat toffee again because it reminded me of him, but after, it made me feel good. Funny how food does that. The great connector.
Uncle would come out with these pearls of wisdom about life too. Jesus, I haven’t thought about that in years. Haven’t thought about how much I miss him, either.
Shit.
Okay, changing the subject…
Why do you like your tongue to bleed when you have sour sweets?
Favorite place… Inuvik in the Northwest Territories. No matter when I go, there’s something beautiful to see. I, unlike you, appreciate the cold, so that helps. You spend any time in the Middle East during the summer and suddenly blizzards look welcoming.
In the fall, though, the tundra’s this blanketed space of red, yellow, and orange. It’s like Mother Nature’s burning away the old to bring in the new. During wintertime, the icy roads do something to my brain.
All that white… it clears my thoughts as nothing else ever can. During the spring, there’s so much wildlife around. I was raised on a ranch so I’m used to being close to animals, but this is their place, you know? It’s not cultivated by man for men. It’s THEIRS. And I love that. As for summertime, the midnight sun is something I’ll never forget. Sheesh, thinking about Inuvik has me in my feels.
Fave person… seeing as you have me locked into not telling this Z about the crystals, you can’t tell my oldest brother (C because I can be difficult too) that he’s my favorite person. We used to be really close, but me being overseas doesn’t help with maintaining ties. Not only that, some massive stuff happened in our family and he’s my rock.
He’s the type of man who always has your back. As much as I can, I emulate him, but I know I fail miserably. A guy’s gotta try though. At least, if he’s not a massive piece of shit.
So, as for the killing people via first POV shooter question. No, I don’t, lol. In fact, I don’t do much ‘on the ground’ work. I fly planes. Loss of life comes with the territory though. Heavy shit.
You earned a scholarship to Juilliard? Color me impressed! What do you play? What’s your favorite song?
(Have you assessed me as a pen pal, yet?)
Butch Cassidy