Under a Different Sun

In the morning, with bags under his eyes, he gave me a tired smile and a pat on the shoulder.

"Son, you go defend our country, and I'll have your back," he said.

However, even he used to call me a muscle-bound dummy back then.

I hung my head, hiding the sting in my eyes.

"Hey, bro, we're heading out to grab some food. Wanna come with us?"

"Nah, let's not bother, John. That place is fancy dress, and Hank's not really... you know."

Sheila spoke softly, but her point was crystal clear.

"Got it.

"Well then, we'll be off, brother." John gave me a wave goodbye.

I watched them leave, John in the middle of the crowd, hand in hand with Sheila, looking totally at ease.

It's okay.

They wanted someone like John to be their son and husband, not me.

I'll let them have that.

4

Half a month slipped by in silence.

It was time for Dad's surgery follow-up.

I woke up early to get everything ready to take him to the hospital.

No matter how he had been to me, he was still my dad.

The doctor who did his surgery was a top-notch guy I had begged a military bigwig to bring in. He hardly ever did surgeries for just anyone.

However, when Dad saw me all set to go, he scowled. "What are you doing?"

"Taking you for your checkup."

"Don't bother, John's going to pick me up later. If it hadn't been for John, I'd have died from that heart attack!

"Hmph, having you as a son is no different from not having one at all!"

"John, who I barely knew, was willing to get Dr. Jefferson to help me out!"

Dad's words hit me like a bomb.

Dr. Jefferson was the doctor I had asked for!

"What are you talking about?! Dr. Jefferson was the one I asked for! I..."

"You asked for him? Hank, you're not the one hurting, so it's easy for you to lie!

"Who do you think you are, talking like you're in charge? Who's Dr. Jefferson to you?

"You've been in the army for a few years and now you think you're someone special?"

Dad just scoffed at me, not bothering to hear me out.

However, his face softened when he saw John.

"Bro, are you coming with us to the hospital?"

"Why bother with him? He'd just mess things up." Dad grabbed John's arm and headed for the door, but not without throwing a couple of jabs my way.

"Hank, try to be honest for once, will you? Stop letting your mom and me down!"

That's when it hit me.

Maybe the truth did not really matter.

In Dad's eyes, John was the son he had chosen.

Me? I was just the unlucky guy who did not fit into his plans, back from serving my country.

I slumped on the couch, my phone buzzing non-stop.

Sheila was on a shopping spree with my extra credit card.

I had earned my stripes in the service, and all the money the army gave me, I had put on that card.

I wanted to give Sheila a better life.

It turned out that it was all just wishful thinking on my part.

On the day of the big party, the restaurant was packed with relatives.

I sat by myself, texting back and forth with my army buddies.