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“I’m back. What did you say?”

“Just that I don’t have much time on this phone over here. Afghanistan is crazy.”

“You doing okay?”

“Not really,” I admitted.

“So, traveling to some godforsaken country halfway around the world wasn’t a smart idea after all, huh? I think I remember telling you that.”

“It’s not bad. It’s just strange and different. Oh!” I sat up in my chair. “You’ll never guess what happened. I almost got kidnapped by the Taliban!”

“Get out of here. You’re not funny.”

“I’m serious. When I went into the city on my own without a military escort to do some intel, they saw me and grabbed me.”

“How did you get away?”

A suspicious sound hit my ears. “You are not going to the bathroom while talking to me, are you?”

“I’m sorry. Your phone is dying and I couldn’t wait. I’m done now.”

“You’re something else.” I rolled my eyes just as I would have if she had been in front of me.

“Tell me what happened, crazy woman,” she said.

“Well, this guy rescued me. I don’t remember any of it. They knocked me out.”

“Was the guy cute?”

“Is that all you ever think about?”

“Does anything else matter?”

“I think so. Why else would I have traveled to some godforsaken country halfway around the world?”

“He’s a dog. Okay, I get it.”

“No, he’s not. I think he’s hot. He’s got the buff body of a soldier.”

“My, oh my. Look at Rose’s new interests in Afghanistan.”

“Shut up,” I shot back.

She sighed again. “I miss you so much. When are you coming back?”

“In two weeks. And I miss you too.”

“Are you there…” The phone crackled. “…Rose?”

“Hello?” I said into the static. I lowered the phone and thought about trying to call her back. But instead, I set the phone down and typed up a description of Warren to maybe use later for my story. I reasoned that if he was involved in something bad, he would make it into my final story.

Reviewing the observations as I wrote, I noticed they were mostly bad traits, but some good slipped in here and there.

Before I finished the writing session, someone knocked on the door. I closed the laptop and stood, wondering who it could be and knowing I had to be ready for anything Afghanistan threw at me.

“Hold on,” I said out loud.

I turned the doorknob and saw Warren standing outside. His bulging muscles were about ready to rip his olive-green t-shirt in half. He grinned that cocksure grin of his.