Broken

Chapter 1

                                                                                                    C ʜ ᴀ ᴘ ᴛ ᴇ ʀ ● O ɴ ᴇ

"Are you Jack McKean's wife?"

Lacie nodded her head through her growing panic.

"Ma'am, on behalf of the secretary of the United States Marine Corps, I regret to inform you that your husband, sergeant Jack McKean, was killed this morning near Bagram, Afghanistan by a roadside bomb."

The CNO gave Lacie a sympathetic expression that he must've worn hundreds of times now.

Lacie just stared back at him with a blank expression, slightly shaking her head.

"No, I'm sorry but you must have made a mistake. Jack's not dead." She forced her expression into one of happiness. "Now, excuse me but I really must be going now, before Jack begins to worry."

Lacie began slipping on her shoes while smiling at the prospect of finally being able to see Jack for the first time in months.

"Ma'am, I understand that you're in shock but I have some things of Jack's to give to you." The CNO then turned to the Marine next to him. Lacie watched, impatient, as he took something from the Marine and presented it to her.

Lacie stood eerily still as she looked down at what was being offered to her.

She gasped, her hand immediately flying to cover her mouth.

It was the memory box she had made for Jack two years ago.

2 Years Earlier

"You know it'll only end up being used to hold all of my cigs, right Lace?" Jack laughed, the corners of his eyes crinkling and his full lips turning up.

She laughed back at his antics as she clipped the finishing touch from this month's wildlife magazine. "Oh, hush up."

He laughed once more but leaned up against the fridge to watch her handiwork anyway.

Lacie added the finishing touch on the lid of the old cigar box. It was a cutting of a Blue Jay, Jack's favorite bird. Excited, she pushed slightly away from the kitchen table to admire her creation in its entirety.

Just as she was turning her head to get Jack's approval, she felt his large, calloused hands come up to cradle her face.

"I love you, Lacie Ann McKean. More than anything." He whispered to her as his cornflower blue eyes met her clover green ones.

"And I love you, Jack Rupert McKean. More than you even know."

"Oh, God." Her voice was trembling so she didn't dare say more, just took the box into the safety of her arms and raised her misting eyes to meet the officer's pained ones.

"We give you our deepest regrets, ma'am." The chaplain spoke for the first time since Lacie had opened the door to find the three solemn men standing with their hats gripped in their hands, out of the utmost respect.

The Officer nodded glumly. "In the next twenty-four hours you should receive a visit from the Casualty Assistance Officer. They'll make sure everything is sorted out and taken care of."

Lacie only nodded, wanting them to leave already. She didn't know how she'd handle it. Maybe she'd cry, maybe she'd wail, maybe she'd just remain as numb as she was now.

"Our prayers are with you, Mrs. McKean." The chaplain said this as he departed with the other members of the death parade. Leaving tears, broken hearts, and young widows in their wake.

Hope you liked that little preview of our story! This was written by moi, Stephanie, and I'm sorry if it's short but it is, after all, just the prologue ;) make sure to drop us all your comments and let us know if you're just as excited for this as we are :D

-Steph

 

P.S. I didn't proofread :O sorry 'bout that :'(