My brother after the military.
_____
By Jessica Pope
The guy on my couch has been here for eight weeks. He has no job. He has no money. The guy on my couch has no prospects.
The guy on my couch has two children and one on the way. He has been away from them for the majority of their lives. He cries when they say “You are the world’s best dad!”
The guy on my couch is getting a divorce because she could not handle his way of life. She took the kids. He begged her not to go. The guy on my couch blames himself.
The guy on my couch has been trained in welding. He was told the Union would put him to work after being released. He is scared he won’t be good at civilian life.
The guy on my couch served in the military for thirteen years. They threw him away because of “military cuts.” He has never been in trouble. He has been deployed four times during times of war and into war zones. The guy on my couch has been cold, hot, hungry, thirsty, shot at, lost, and scared.
The guy on my couch is my brother. The guy on my couch is a hero in the eyes of his children and his family. The guy on my couch finally got a job. I am going to miss the guy on my couch.
_____
This article originally appeared on Medium for Human Parts. Follow Human Parts on Facebook and Twitter
Photo credit: Getty Images