Young

'Oh no, that kid is out there again,' he thought to himself as he peered out through his apartment window. It had started raining about an hour before, so John quickly made the decision to invite the young man in. Whether he knew him or not, a rainstorm in New York in the middle of October was definitely not a good combination for anyone.1

He quickly descended the stairs and was outside on the sidewalk in a few short moments. He yelled across the street to the young man on the bench.2

"Hey!"3

The young man didn't respond, so John tried again. "Hey! You!"4

This time, the young man started, and then stared straight at him.5

"I know you don't know me, and I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but I think you should come inside with me, at least until the rain stops," He had to shout to be heard over the rain and across the street. The young man looked unsure at first, but the rain intensified. He stood and nodded, and followed John back inside.6

When they reached the apartment, John continued straight in, but the man stood awkwardly in the doorway, dripping on the welcome mat. John noticed.7

"Oh, hey, let me take your coat. I'll get you a towel and try to find you a sweatshirt or something to put on, if you're cold."8

The young man shrugged out of his coat, and John caught a glimpse of his dogtags as they caught a sliver of light.9

"I'm John by the way. You gotta a name?"10

"Devon."11

"Okay Devon. Take a seat, make yourself comfortable. Do you want anything to drink while I'm up? I could make coffee or something."12

"Yeah. I mean, coffee sounds good. Thanks."13

John hung the coat up on a coat rack and headed to the kitchen. A few minutes later he returned with two mugs of coffee, the steam rising delicately off of both of them. Devon had taken a seat at the table in the area that served as a dining room.14

"So, how long were you in the army, if you don't mind my asking," John said as he took a seat.15

"About a year an a half. My welcome home was worse than actually being in the war."16

"That sucks. I'm really sorry to hear that. How old are you anyway?"17

Devon seemed uncomfortable at first, but then he answered. "I'm 22. My birthday was a few months ago, while I was in Iraq."18

John felt bad for the boy. "I'm sorry if I'm being too nosy, I just can't believe that I'm 38 years old and you've been through more in your life than I have. If I ask something that you don't want to answer, just tell me to shut up and I'll leave you alone."19

"No, it's cool man. All of this is just a little touchy to me still. You're the first person I've met who actually seems to want to listen to me." Devon was beginning to feel at ease around this insanely kind stranger.20

"My God, what happened? Where's your family?"21

"I think it would just be easier if I explained it to you from the very beginning. Would you mind listening to me? I don't have anyone else."22

John was taken aback by this man's trustworthiness, but welcomed it completely. "Whatever you need. I'll listen to you without judgement."23

~~~~~~~24

"My dad left when I was young, so I never knew him; I don't even remember him. It was just me and mom for a long time, and things were always tough, but we got by just by loving each other. 25

When I was about 12 years old, she remarried. I hated my stepfather. He beat my mother and ignored me. I sank into a depression; I had absolutely nothing to live for. They took me to a shrink because he said I had to go and she would never speak against him. I was put on medication because, as my stepdad put it, 'No boy your age should be this down.'26

Once I turned 18, I couldn't take it anymore, so I left. I did the only thing I knew to do, and went into the army.27

The crazy thing of it is, I never knew what we were fighting for to begin with. Our whole lives, the American race is tought to hate what we don't understand or believe. 28

Older people like to talk about how full of hate we young people are, especially the young soldiers who think they are protecting our country's values. Yes, we wave this flag of hatred, but they are the ones who made it. They handed it to us, but when we wave it, or when something goes wrong, the blame is placed on us.29

I couldn't take it anymore. Killing innocent people simply because their belief system was different from ours; torturing families by shooting women and children in front of their husbands, just waiting for any excuse to kill these young men. I just couldn't take it!30

I went AWOL. I came home for two weeks, at which time I was supposed to report back, but I never did. When my stepfather realized that I had never intended upon going back, he tried to beat me. When that didn't work, he turned on my mother. So I left, and I've been on the streets since then.31

All I've ever really wanted was a place to call my own, my home. Now I don't even have that."32

~~~~~~~33

John was stunned. He had no idea what to say to the whole thing. Instead, he picked up his empty mug and walked back into the kitchen. Devon took his silence as rejection.34

"Look, I'll go. I'm sorry for disturbing you." Devon stood up to get his coat.35

"No. Don't. You didn't bother me at all. I can't believe what I just heard. You are young, you have more heart than anyone I've ever heard of. You were born into this world as it all fell apart, and then you are shunned for first trying to protect us all and then following your heart. You are strong, yet you don't belong. A great injustice has been done to you, and I will never turn my back on you. I know we barely know each other, but you will always have a friend in me."36

~~~~~~~37

We are young38

We have heart39

Born in this world as it all falls apart40

We are strong41

We don't belong42

Born in this world as it all falls apart