Chapter I: Two Stories

            Amy sighed while sitting at the bar.  She rubbed her finger along the glass rim.  Even though she had just looked, she couldn’t help but looking at her watch again as if that would force her sister to come to her so they could go home. Deep down she knew she would go home alone.  Again. But still she played along to the game they had somehow fell into without ever discussing it. Her sister, Ruth, and her were so different yet Amy loved her.  Even though Ruth was older Amy felt like she needed to protect her.  Even if the person Ruth needed the most protection from was usually herself.

            That’s why Amy sat at a bar even though she would rather not be sitting there that particularly hot July day.  Of late, the bar had become somewhat of a military hangout spot.  Soldiers heading to basic training, soldiers on leave, and the women looking for a good but short time with a soldier congregated at this place. Ruth fell into that last category.  Amy was always a little uncomfortable but Ruth seemed to thrive in the atmosphere.

“Here again, Amy?” a voice asked.