Partners
Partners
I heard laughter from one corner, how could someone be laughing on day like today? Didn’t they realise they had just buried a friend and colleague? It almost brought up some rage and anger. I took a deep breath
I looked over and saw on the table a photo of Brad smiling in his uniform. Beside it was the flag that his parents had received. They left a candle burning and it distorted in my tears.
No one knew what it was like holding someone you loved dying in your arms. He was the closest thing to a brother I ever had. I had no family and Brad’s family took me in. We joined the force together, he joked that women always loved a man in uniform.
That hadn’t been too wrong. He thought Julia was the one, the one who loved him. Instead she was the one to end his life. If only I had told him my doubts, but it was too late now. It was too late for regrets.
“Hey Ricky” a mate called. I smiled and walked over. “Did you get the memo about new partners?”
“New partners?” I asked.
“They want to match us all up with rookies.”
I couldn’t imagine being without Brad, but I trusted him. A rookie would have no idea how to act or react to certain situations. It was a learning experience, but I didn’t want a rookie.
I looked across the room and met the blue eyes of a young guy. He was staring at me; I never backed down from a confrontation. He walked over and held out his hand. “I’m sorry about your partner. My name is Heath, Brad was my brother.”
“I know Brad and he didn’t have any brothers. Just three sisters.”
“I am not wanting to cause any problems, but I only just found out that I had a half brother. My mother left a diary when she died. I earned enough money to make it here and arrived yesterday. I didn’t think I would be too late.”
I could see the tears in the young man’s eyes. I almost felt my own welling up. “What can I do for you Heath?”
“Tell me about Brad, we are going to have plenty of time together.” He motioned over to my boss. “Sergeant has assigned me to be your new partner.”
I stepped back, Brad’s half-brother as his new rookie partner. I didn’t think I could handle this. How was I meant to accept this? “Ricky it’s your turn to speak,” Brad’s mother said.
I stood up and smiled at the crowd. “Brad was amazing; he never let me down, except all the girls liked him instead of me. Seriously, Brad was a guy who would always have your back, and he saved my life a few times. All the guys from the force know how serious if can be, but if you have someone like Brad as your partner…” I looked down at Heath. “Brad’s loyalty and legacy will live on with his half-brother Heath as my new partner.”
I heard laughter from one corner, how could someone be laughing on day like today? Didn’t they realise they had just buried a friend and colleague? It almost brought up some rage and anger. I took a deep breath
I looked over and saw on the table a photo of Brad smiling in his uniform. Beside it was the flag that his parents had received. They left a candle burning and it distorted in my tears.
No one knew what it was like holding someone you loved dying in your arms. He was the closest thing to a brother I ever had. I had no family and Brad’s family took me in. We joined the force together, he joked that women always loved a man in uniform.
That hadn’t been too wrong. He thought Julia was the one, the one who loved him. Instead she was the one to end his life. If only I had told him my doubts, but it was too late now. It was too late for regrets.
“Hey Ricky” a mate called. I smiled and walked over. “Did you get the memo about new partners?”
“New partners?” I asked.
“They want to match us all up with rookies.”
I couldn’t imagine being without Brad, but I trusted him. A rookie would have no idea how to act or react to certain situations. It was a learning experience, but I didn’t want a rookie.
I looked across the room and met the blue eyes of a young guy. He was staring at me; I never backed down from a confrontation. He walked over and held out his hand. “I’m sorry about your partner. My name is Heath, Brad was my brother.”
“I know Brad and he didn’t have any brothers. Just three sisters.”
“I am not wanting to cause any problems, but I only just found out that I had a half brother. My mother left a diary when she died. I earned enough money to make it here and arrived yesterday. I didn’t think I would be too late.”
I could see the tears in the young man’s eyes. I almost felt my own welling up. “What can I do for you Heath?”
“Tell me about Brad, we are going to have plenty of time together.” He motioned over to my boss. “Sergeant has assigned me to be your new partner.”
I stepped back, Brad’s half-brother as his new rookie partner. I didn’t think I could handle this. How was I meant to accept this? “Ricky it’s your turn to speak,” Brad’s mother said.
I stood up and smiled at the crowd. “Brad was amazing; he never let me down, except all the girls liked him instead of me. Seriously, Brad was a guy who would always have your back, and he saved my life a few times. All the guys from the force know how serious if can be, but if you have someone like Brad as your partner…” I looked down at Heath. “Brad’s loyalty and legacy will live on with his half-brother Heath as my new partner.”