GI Joe and Ebony, An American Love Story (11 page)

“It's
about
time
you
got
here.
Boy
you
scared
me
to
death.
Jay,
where
the
hell
have
you
been?
”

Two
Marines
stand
to
greet
her,
upon
hearing
her
voice.
Ebony
stops
mid
sentence
and
mid
step
when
she
realizes
that
neither
of
them
are
Jay.

“Who
are
you?
I'm
sorry
that's
rude.
Hi
I'm
the
Bride.
Did
Jay
invite
you
to
the
wedding?
”

“Hi,
are
you
Ebony
Saunders?
”

“Yes.
Yes
I
am.
Are
you
here
for
the
wedding?
”
She
asked
confused.

“No
mam,
I'm
afraid
not.
”

“Then
who
are
you
and
what's
going
on?
”

“Ms.
Saunders,
my
name
is
Lieutenant
Gregory
Bonner
and
this
is
Lieutenant
Richard
Williams
we're
here
on
behalf
of
the
United
States
Marine
Corp.
We
hate
to
interrupt
your
family
gathering
but
we
need
to
speak
to
you
on
a
very
urgent
matter.
Is
there
somewhere
that
we
can
speak
in
private.
”

“About
what?
Where's
Jay?
Is
Jay
okay?
”

“Ms.
Saunders,
can
we
please
speak
to
you
in
private?
”

Ebony
immediately
starts
to
panic.
Her
head
is
spinning
and
the
air
is
leaving
her
lungs.
“
No!
Where's
Jay?
”

Lieutenant
Bonner
attempts
to
calm
her.
“
Ebony,
please.
I
promise
we'll
explain
everything
if
we
can
just
speak
to
you
somewhere
private.
”

Ebony's
aunt
clears
everyone
out
a
room
off
of
the
family
room
and
leads
Ebony
and
the
officers
into
the
room.
Ebony
is
urged
to
sit
while
the
two
Marines
stand.
They
begin
to
speak
and
Ebony
begins
to
unravel
and
loose
her
composure.
She
quickly
becomes
hysterical
and
inconsolable
when
she
discovers
that
Jay
was
killed
in
Saudi
Arabia
two
days
ago.

Distraught,
Ebony
is
curled
up
on
the
bed
quietly
sobbing.
H
er
eyes
are
closed
and
tears
are
freely
flowing.
She
is
alone,
except
for
the
spirit
of
Jay.
Helpless
to
console
her
he
is
slumped
over
in
a
chair
beside
her
bed.
His
head
is
down
and
he
rings
his
hands-
obviously
devastated
by
Ebony's
sorrow.
It
tore
him
apart
that
he
could
not
comfort
her.

Ebony
ignores
the
faint
knock
at
her
bedroom
door.
Her
aunt
Lottie
enters
the
room
and
sits
beside
her
on
the
bed
and
tries
to
comfort
her.
“
Baby
I
know
that
you
are
hurting,
but
I
need
you
to
do
something
for
me.
This
is
going
to
be
the
hardest
thing
that
you'll
ever
have
to
do,
but
Ebony
I
need
you
to
get
up
and
get
dressed.
It's
time
and
everyone
is
waiting
for
you.
”

“I
can't.
Please
don't
ask
me
to,
because
I
just
can't.
I
can't
and
and
I
won't.
”

“Yes
you
can
and
yes
you
will.
Ebony,
life
doesn't
take
a
back
seat
to
death.
Death
must
always
take
a
back
seat
to
life.
So,
get
up
and
get
dress.
Your
family
and
friends
are
all
waiting.
Child,
everybody's
hurting.
They
need
this
as
much
as
you.
Believe
it
or
not
it'll
make
you
feel
better.
Besides,
it's
what
Jay
would
want
you
to
do.
So
get
up,
get
yourself
together
and
let
’
s
go.
”

Ebony
draws
her
body
further
into
the
fetal
position.
She
ignores
the
pleas
of
her
aunt.
Her
aunt
gets
up
and
quietly
leaves.
Suddenly,
Ebony
hears
a
familiar
voice
in
the
room.
“
Ebony,
she's
right.
Get
up.
It's
breaking
my
heart
to
see
you
like
this.
Mourn
for
me
tomorrow,
if
you
have
to.
But
take
advantage
of
this
opportunity
to
celebrate
my
life
tonight.
Now,
get
up
and
get
dressed.
Everyone
is
waiting.
You're
going
to
be
late.
”

Ebony
jumps
up
and
looks
around
for
Jay.
She
doesn't
see
him,
but
she
knows
that
he
is
there.
He
gently
strokes
her
hair
from
her
face
and
attempts
to
wipe
a
tear
from
her
tear
stained
face.
She
closes
her
eyes
as
she
feels
his
touch.

“I
love
you,
and
I
always
will.
Now,
get
dressed.
”

“Jay,
I
love
you
so
much.
I
can't
do
this
without
you.
”