As I drove back onto the highway I looked down at my phone. “Thirty Percent”. “Fuck it good enough!” I grabbed the phone and scrolled through my contacts, then I saw “Sgt Jasper”. I hit the call button and rushed glances between the road and my phone. As soon as I looked up I saw “Welcome to Virginia” plastered on the sign. Just then I heard “Hey Lieutenant! Man I thought you were gone already? What’s up?” Quickly followed by “Sarah! Don’t hit your brother! Hey, both of you quit it! Daddy is on the phone with work.”

“Jasper! Listen, this is important. Did your family get any letters while you were deployed?” Urgency spewing from my voice.

“Lieutenant, are you alright? You sound freaked out. And No, no they only had gotten the ones I sent to them, why?”

“Jasper, I just dropped Jackson off, I was going to surprise my family with an appearance,but thank god I didn’t. When I called them, they acted like I wasn’t me. Something about the military delivering a death letter about me.”

Jasper must’ve been taken back by the news.”wh-what?” He said in a soft tone. “Honey!” He quickly shouted. A woman’s voice is heard answering him. “Hey did you get any letters from the army?” His voice, now soft and uniform, a stark contrast to what I was used to. “Okay good, listen, call the other wives and ask around right now.” I could barely hear what his wife was saying, but I made out a “why?”. “Just, please do this for me? Pretty please?” A few seconds went by and I heard a “thank you.” “Lieutenant, are you sure?” His voice back to a very stern, bellowing tone.

“Yes, I am sure, my father was about to stab me through the phone, apparently my family is getting threats and other shit.”

“What? Lieutenant, that's not funny.”

“Jasper I’m not fucking with you. I didn’t talk much because I’m racing home now. Just, can you get me Colonel Strand’s number and text me it?”

“Uh, sure. Listen, I'll ask around the barracks, I’ll rush over right now. Wait, how am I supposed to get his number? It’s way passed hours.”

“Jasper, just check on your squad. Jackson should be calling Patterson and Carmine. And don’t pull that bullshit! I know you’re the one who kept prank calling the brigade commander. If you can get his number I guarantee you can get me Strand’s.”

The sound of ruffling and cloth is heard from the call. “Im Fine, Ill check the platoon anyways, Jackson may miss something. And shit! You kno-“

Jasper’s phone lit up as he was cut off by his family, “Language! And where are you going? You said you didn’t have to leave! What happened to family night?” I could feel the tension over the phone.

“Honey! Sugar bear! I know I promised! I’m sorry, but you need to understand, my lieutenant is on the phone and he just told me that his family thought he was dead. The army messed up. There may have been more messages sent out like his. I need to check on my boys. Please understand.” Now silence filled the air, I suspected he muted his microphone.

I heard a click and “Alright I’ll make a few calls and get his number. I’ll text it to you as soon as I get it. I’m heading out now. Call you later with a sitrep. Jasper out.” The line went silent.

I gripped my steering wheel so tight that you could see the stretches in the leather. I gritted my teeth as I was beyond angry. “How could they be this incompetent. I just don’t get it. How can I, how could strand put me in for a promotion and medal while I am dead on the official dossier. It doesn’t make sense.” My eyes widened as I realized. “Oh my God, does Julia think I’m dead? No- n-no, n-no, no, fuck no.” I Pulled my phone up and went through my contacts. “Jules” I pressed the screen so hard it caused it to turn black under my fingertip. It felt like an eternity between every single ring. Suddenly I heard the phone answer. “Hello?” a feminine, unfamiliar voice answered.

“Uh, hi! Who is this? Is Julia there?” My voice was sporadic.

“Um, I'm sorry, there is no one named Julia at this residence. Who is this?” The voice asked with an inquisitive pitch.

My heart dropped, my head pounded, my vision began to blur as I felt my breathing become shallow. I must’ve drifted because I was shocked back by my phone.

“Hello? Sir? Are you still there?”

“Oh, um, I’m sorry. Wrong number.” I quickly hung up as I felt myself fall into my seat. “Wait!” I quickly rushed through the contacts of my phone to Mr. Roberts, but I hesitated. I looked at the clock, “9:30pm” “No, Mr. Roberts is probably asleep.” I paused to think, “Fuck it, I don’t care.” I hit the call button. I heard the phone ring three times, then the phone answered.

“H-hello?” Mr. Roberts, obviously dumbfounded by my call.

“Mr. Roberts! It’s Jason! Hey I have a-“ I was interrupted by the call ending.

“What the fuck?” I muttered as I began to call again. He didn’t answer, so I kept calling again and again. Desperate to get any sort of answer. Finally he answered again.

“Mr. Roberts! It’s me! Please don’t hang up! I swear! It’s me!” I shouted as loud as I could to try and get him to listen.

“Jason? Wh-. ho-. I don’t understand.”

“I know! My parents acted the same way, I’m trying to get in touch with my command now, there must’ve been a mixup. I am alive! At least I hope I am! Listen I’m trying to get in touch with Julia, I tried to call her number but some old woman picked up. What is up with that?” My attitude coming to a small sense of relief at the sound of his voice.

“Right, well.” He paused as he spoke. “Jason, I-“ his voice became rigid and nervous.

“What? Did something happen? Is Julia okay?” I said in a panic.

“Jason, she’s fine.” He took a deep breath. “Damn, even when you’re supposed to be the dead one you’re still worried about her, huh.” He let out a nervous chuckle. “Um, yeah Jason, I’m sorry. You coming back from the dead really messed with me for a second. She’s fine, she is on vacation with some of her friends. She’s celebrating because she got a Job in Elkhart working for a big wig Biomedical Lab! Isn’t that great? She starts in six weeks. But she’s fine. How are you, son? Did you say you called your parents?”

I could tell something wasn’t right. I decided to play along. “Ha! Yeah, I’m alright. I hadn’t known anything until I called them, I’m rushing home now. They acted crazy! They couldn’t believe it was me! Mom was distraught and freaking out and you know my dad, armed and ready at all times. I thought he was gonna kill me when he thought I was someone else! I had to cut the call with them short, I knew the best course of action was to talk to them in person.”

“Now, with how crazy this night seems, I agree completely.”

“So, when will Julia be back?”

“Oh, um, probably next week sometime? Wait! Did you say you are coming home tonight?” He became a bit winded at the realization.

“Oh, yeah. I needed to rush home. I’m in Virginia now! Should be home in like one and a half hours. Why?”

“No reason. Listen Jason, take the next few days and get everything in order, then let’s go fishing this weekend? Like the good old days. We can chat and catch up! I wanna hear all about your time away.”

I thought about my time, the echoes of screams haunted the back of my mind. “Actually, can we talk about something else? I'd rather hear about what’s been going on here.”

“Of course! So that’s a yes to fishing?”

“Yes! Totally! It’s been forever since I’ve picked up a rod!”

“Alright, Great! I’ll see you then!”

“Wait can I get Julia’s numb-“ he cut me off short again by ending the call.

Something was amiss, I knew it, but before I could think about it further my phone lit up. The message wrote “Strand’s Number.” I opened the text and pressed the number. The phone began to ring.

“This is Colonel Strand, who is this?” His voice murmured, he must’ve been sleeping.

“Colonel Strand! It’s Lieutenant Thane sir.”

“Lieutenant Thane? How did you get this number? Do you have any idea what time it is?” His voice turned to one of anger.

“I’m so sorry sir! I didn’t have a choice. As I was returning home, I called my family. When they answered, they thought I was killed in combat. Apparently they received the letter a year and a half ago.”

I could hear the colonel get up from his bed. “I’m sorry son. Say that again?” He said in shock.

“Sir, there must’ve been a mixup. Apparently my family had received a letter saying I had died In combat a year and a half ago.”

“Oh, Lieutenant, um.” He seemed to be struck by this information.

“Lieutenant Thane, I’m getting up right now, I’m going to search back in the records. There must’ve been a documentation error. I’ll head over right now and get this squared away with S-1 by tomorrow evening. Expect a call from this number.”

“Sir, I already have Sergeant’s Jackson and Jasper going to all the men now to confirm they haven’t been overlooked as well.”

“Good work Lieutenant! Now, I will call you as soon as I have information. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Goodbye.” Strand quickly ended the call.

“Why does everyone keep hanging up on me?” I asked as I looked up to find the “Welcome to Maryland sign.” “Huh, did I completely miss D.C.?” I asked myself. Not even three minutes after I noticed my speed. Ninety five. “Holy shit!” As soon as I noticed, my car’s cabin lit up blue and red. “Fuck me!”

I pulled the car over and turned on my emergency flashers. I just sat there waiting for the cop to come up to me. What felt like an eternity passed as I began to become impatient “come on! I don’t have time for this.” That’s when I realized a second cop car pulled behind the first. A few moments after I watched the officer in the front vehicle open his door. As he exited his vehicle, I could see he was a younger officer, a bit shorter than me. He slowly made his way towards my vehicle. He stood over me as I lowered my window.

“Evening officer.”

“License and Registration.” He demanded.

“Right here officer.” I pulled my information out of my glovebox.

“Do you know why I pulled you over today?”

“I can probably take a guess.”

“Sir, the speed limit is fifty-five, you were going ninety-five.”

“I’m sorry officer, look I’ll be honest there is a lot going on right now and I’m trying to get back home.”

He shines his flashlight on my face. No doubt seeing my flush face and sweat. “Sir, have you been drinking tonight?”

“No officer! I don’t drink or smoke.” I said with confidence.

“I didn’t say anything about smoking.” He responded.

“I know, I just wanted to clarify beforehand.”

“Officer, I’m sorry there is a lot going on. I just got back from deployment, and as I was heading home I called my family and apparently they’ve thought I was dead for the last year and a half. I am rushing home to attempt to fix whatever damage was done.”

The officer looked at me as if I had just Insulted his mother. “Sir, step out of the vehicle.”

“I’m sorry officer, what?”

“I said step out of the-“

Just then his radio shot on.

“All units, we have a 10-44 in progress. Baltimore City police are requesting all available units to support.” The officer slams his hand down on my door, and says “stay right there.” He walks out towards the other cop car and waves him off. As he does the other cop car rushes past full emergency lights and sirens blaring.

“Everything alright?” I ask.

“None of your concern. Now out of the vehicle!” His voice turned to one of power.

“Officer, I am exiting my vehicle, please step back.”

I exit my car and stand up, I must’ve been wrong about the height difference as I was towering over this officer.

“Step away from the vehicle!”

“Okay, chill out!”

He grabs me by the chest and slams me into my car. “I said get on the ground!”

A sharp pain engulfed my chest as I exhaled. “What the fuck man! You didn’t tell me to get on the ground.”

He tried to push me to the ground as I attempted to stay on my feet “Stop resisting!” I attempted to get this over with so I willingly laid on the ground. Sadly, as I did, he pushed with all his might. And ended up rolling over me. Causing me to chuckle.

“What? You think this is funny?” I felt a sharp pain hit my forehead. He kicked me in the head and kneeled on my back. At this point I had enough, at the rate he was going, he’d probably try and kill me. I attempted to wrestle him off of me, but he pushed a “taser” into my back. But I could feel the barrel of his pistol. “I’m so fucking dead. I survived a fucking war to die to some shitty cop. Fucking great.” I thought to myself.

“Are you going to comply?”

“Officer, I have complied with every order you have given me. I’m not here to think ill of you. But right now I feel as though you are targeting me for some reason.”

“Shut up! I’ve had enough of y-“

His radio shot on. “All units, all units! Multiple 10-82s, a possible 10-45, and several shots fired! Immediately all available units are to move to Baltimore now!”

I could feel him tense up on me. “Fuck! It’s your lucky day, get in your car and get the fuck out of here!” He rushed to his cruiser as I began to stand up. He sped off with his lights on just like the last car.

“Yeah, my lucky day.” I said as I got in my car and drove the rest of the way home.