Title: Homefront
Author: Jaxon Altieri
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: 07/26/2021
Length: 19500
Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQIA+, military, PTSD, veteran, hurt/comfort, coming out, grief
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Description
Sergeant Daniel Malone is back in the States after being medically discharged for severe PTSD. In his hands, he holds a letter given to him by a fallen friend. The letter, the last note from Eric, the soldier’s brother, is of his coming out and needing his brother’s support.
Daniel insists on returning it to Eric and telling him that his brother supported and loved him, but Eric blames Daniel for his brother’s death. Daniel gives the worn letter to Eric in the hope it brings him peace but can’t stay away as the words of the message and seeing Eric for the first time have stirred feelings in Daniel’s heart that he’d never felt before.
Even though Eric seems to want nothing to do with him, fate and the letter written to a brother could be what brings them together or drives them apart.
Daniel cradled his head in his hands. Tears ran down his face, and he fought to suppress the pain in his heart. Not once did he imagine it would be this bad. Shawn was so different from Eric. While outwardly tough, Shawn treated Daniel with respect and kindness when he came out. He was sure it had to do with Eric. Shawn could have known about his brother’s sexuality all along and was waiting for Eric to come out when he was ready.
It didn’t matter now. Eric hated him. Daniel’s soul twisted inside, but all he cared about were Eric’s feelings. Was it the intensity of his brown eyes or the shape of his face? Maybe it was how he’d lost his brother. Perhaps it was that Eric’s reactions mirrored the turmoil in his own soul. Daniel didn’t know. Did Eric honestly blame me for Shawn’s death in the line of duty or did he need me as a scapegoat to deal with the pain from his loss?
“The pain is all too familiar, buddy.”
He glanced up. The worn letter still rested on the table. He leaned back and breathed in, relaxing as much as possible. He snatched up the letter and stood up before looking around the diner. Everyone was minding their own business. At least I didn’t create a scene.
Daniel wiped the tears from his eyes and slung his duffle bag over his shoulder. Coming there wasn’t a good idea. I must have been crazy. Still, Eric deserved to have the letter back. Daniel’s gut told him to return it. Before he left town, he’d make Eric understand how much his brother supported him and loved him, no matter what.
Daniel scanned the diner in hope that another employee would be close. He locked eyes with a cashier. Her long brown hair was tied in a ponytail. She smiled and her eyes lit up a little. The cashier straightened her apron so it fit properly over her jeans. The T-shirt she wore was black lettered with the diner’s name in white. He gripped the letter, strolled over, and dropped it on the counter in front of the cashier. “Can you make sure Eric gets this?”
She nodded. “Yeah, sure. How do you know Eric?”
“I served with his brother overseas.”
The cashier cringed. “I’m sorry. Things are tough for him right now. I’ll give him the letter.”
Daniel grabbed a pen and wrote his hotel and room number on a napkin. “Give him this. I need to talk to him.”
“Yeah, sugar, I’ll give it to him. Can’t promise he’ll call since things looked a little heated between you two.”
Daniel ran a hand through his messy hair before wiping the tears filling up his eyes. “Yeah, you could say that. I don’t think either of us could’ve prepared for this meeting. Thank you, ma’am.”
“It’s Jenny. Make sure you come back and try our cinnamon rolls. Best in town.”
He grinned and turned to walk away. “No doubt. Perhaps tomorrow.”
A fresh ocean breeze blew over Daniel as he exited the diner. It both cooled him off and exhilarated him.
His stomach grumbled again. Should I get something to go? Nah. I’ll wait for later; skipping a meal will clear my head.
Turning right, he walked down the street, lost in thought. He passed Jasper Falls’ only locally owned hardware store; the sign proudly boasted those words in large red, white, and blue letters. Daniel appreciated the Americana and pride the old shop displayed. An American flag sat inside the window next to a miniature Statue of Liberty. There was a “Free Coffee” sign on the lower right corner of the window. Can’t stay undercaffeinated in this town, can I?
Man, no wonder Shawn always took his coffee with a triple shot. He returned to his thoughts, mind racing over what had happened to him overseas. The memories always tortured him and being here brought so many of them back. There was no way for him to push them away. All he could do was endure and hope the next episode wouldn’t send him over the side of a bridge. If only I’d taken a few more rounds, Shawn would still be alive, and Eric wouldn’t hurt so much.
Daniel noticed shadows everywhere. Everywhere he looked, combatants lurked in those spots. His anxiety kicked in and he walked faster. No matter where he walked, there were more shadows. He glanced around and sounds of battle reverberated within his head and screams of pain echoed within his soul. With each step, he scanned the area for insurgents that weren’t there and imaginary bombs that would never go off.
A war veteran could never get the war out of him. If he got help, the memories might not hurt so much, but pride and the pain of loss were a roadblock without a foreseeable way around.
He leaned against a flagpole, sweat beaded on his forehead. His breathing slowed and Daniel closed his eyes, letting the soft breeze glide across his skin. An American flag flew high and proud above him, whipped back and forth by the wind. What would his life be like if he’d never joined the military?
Daniel listened to the flag flapping in the breeze. “Freedom for pain. I guess nothing is free.” In a country run by capitalism, liberty carried the steepest price. Was that really the price of freedom?
I need to stop talking to myself. People will think I’m crazy. Maybe I’m off my rocker. Eric probably would think so, too.
Slowly, the echoes of war subsided, even if his anxiety didn’t. Living was a battle on its own.
Daniel slunked down the sidewalk, avoiding the gaze of every passerby, afraid of their judgmental stares. Instead, he focused on Eric. He was so much like his brother: same brown eyes, dark hair and bone structure. Shawn was more muscular than Eric, but Eric looked like he took care of himself. He was athletic like his brother and carried himself with strength. They were brothers after all. Anyone with a decent pair of eyes could see it right away; it was too strong to deny.
Attractive. Daniel grinned a little at the thought. Eric was handsome, almost pretty. Shawn had a rugged handsomeness to him, but Eric was so damn beautiful.
Now isn’t the time for a crush. His thoughts thundered in his head. As good-looking as Eric was, Daniel would have to pass. Even if Shawn and their shared sexuality connected them, it wasn’t appropriate.
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Jaxon is a professional freelance writer specializing in Digital Content Services. Through his clientele he has reached a worldwide platform for his content services and is looking to expand his writing to include fiction, specifically in the LGBT genre. He is a prolific artist and like many people, he believes that love at first sight is a possibility when you meet a kindred soul. When not writing, he’s playing with his dogs, watching low-budget horror movies, and hanging with his partner.
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