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Lying on a platform of black velvet is a blue and white ribbon with a medal in the shape of a cross attached I know this is a nificance I wish I hadroom Otherwise I'd just GTS

Then I see Nix's phone on the bedside table and I grab for it before le "es" tab

Right away I find that I' the Navy Cross in my hand I read a Wikipedia link that says it's awarded for extraordinary heroisainst an enemy of the United States

I set Nix's phone aside and pick the ers down the hanistan that warranted Nix to be awarded this

And why is it shoved in the bottom of his t-shirt drawer?

There is a piece of paper folded into the top of the case and I open it up It starts, "The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Nixon Henry Caldwell, Sergeant, United States Marine Corps, Team Leader, 2d Platoon, Bravo Company, MARSOC, FIRST Marine Division FMF in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM

"What are you doing with that?" I hear Nix snarl froh he scares me so bad

He's staring atferocity in his eyes His fists are clenched and his jawHe's not happy and I'm so busted

I stand up and start sta a t-shirt to wear fro nosy I guess" I' the medal in one hand and the paper in the other

Expecting ive him a small, shameful smile He's not impressed or moved Instead, he stomps over tothe same drawer I found it in, Nix throws the the mirror on top to rattle heavily

He spins around on ain Ever"

"I'm sorry, Nix I won't"

Some of the tension leaves his shoulders but I clearly don't kno to keep my mouth shut for I ask, "What was the medal for?"

Wrong move

His spine stiffens again and he wheels on me "Jesus Christ, E business?"

I shrink back from his words No one has ever spoken to me with such hateful menace before And he's not finished He puts both hands on top of his head and looks up at the ceiling

"FUCK!" he yells to no one in particular

It's at this point I realize that I' put the t-shirt on that I borrowed I quickly pull it over lare of his acrimony

I reach out tentatively to hi with a wild animal "I'm so sorry"

He takes a step back fro his face He holds his hands out to n of "stay the hell away from me"

"I justwanted to know a bitto do with your injuries"

Againwrong move I apparently don't kno to just shut the fuck up

If I thought Nix was enraged before, I had been sorely mistaken His face mottles red and I swear his pupils have flarabs my upper arm It's not painful but it's not comfortable either

He marches me to his bedroom door and with his words chopped and shaky, he says, "This isn't going to work, Emily I need you to leave"

I dig

"Wait, Nix I' about what happened there"

And then the daet to rip this shit open and then say you're sorry Why couldn't you leave well enough alone? I should have known better than to trust you I thought you respectedlike everyone else You want to dig, and poke, and prod, and figure out what deo round Well, FUCK YOU EMILY! I don't need this shit and I don't need you Now GET OUT and don't ever contact ain!"

I am stunned speechless I don't knohat to say and I am devastated by the pain and hate in his words I've crossed an unforgivable line with Nix and I can't take it back