PTSD

"Dad when can we go home?" Commander Stewart looked down at his son with a dullness in his eyes that Ralph had never seen before.

"We can never go home son, your old man's got himself in a very bad situation." Ralph's eyes grew dim and his hopeful smile faded. "Don't worry though, look around we are in the Great city of New York." Ralph looked around the "great city" was busy and crowded. "Now Ralph you must understand that we can't tell anyone by what means we got here. That would send all these nice people into a panicked frenzy." Ralph slowly shook his head and understanding.

The "nice people" walked by hurriedly without so much as an "excuse me." Ralph didn't understand why the adults didn't stop to admire him, back home all of his parents' friends would shower him with compliments and gifts but here the adults pay them no mind. They shoved and pushed him out of their way. They all had these square devices pressed to their ears and they talked quickly, most yelled. There were these strange yellow looking cars picking people up, dropping them off, and making this awful beeping noise. The air was smokey and there was trash all over the walkways. The Commander jerked and jumped behind a trash can when he heard a gunshot around the corner.

"Dad calm down it's okay, you're with me remember?" The Commander stood up slowly and begin to dig around his satchel. "Look, I'll show you there's nothing to fear." Ralph took off towards the sound of the gunshot.

"Ralph, no wait!" The Commander felt his heart sink. He raced to catch up with Ralph. Once he turned the corner he saw a young boy he had sandy hair that had been turned a rusty color from the blood that oozed from a small hole in his head. The Commander pushed all the people away and knelt down to hold the small boy. "Oh God...please no... Ralph... What have I done?"

"That's not me I'm right here." The Commander leaped up and hugged Ralph tightly. "I'm okay you can let go. I told you there was nothing to-" CRACK! Ralph's sentence was cut short. The Commander's eyes got wide and he gasped in pain. Ralph's smug smile faded as the realization of what had just happened set in. "Dad? Dad it's going to be okay, I promise just... just lay down and I'll get help."

"Ralph I'm proud of the brave young man you've become, now I need you to take my satchel and begin your new life here. I love you." Ralph's eyes filled with tears as his father rubbed his face before slipping away.

Ralph slipped the satchel off the Commander. Ralph stayed with his father until a giant strange white vehicle with a loud noise and flashing lights came racing up. These men in white quickly pushed Ralph and all of the other people to the side. They took the Commander and the boy away in the large vehicle. All the people slowly started to disappear. Ralph was all alone and all he had was his father's satchel and the hourglass. "What am I supposed to do now...?" Ralph remember this feeling. This fueled him. He took his things and begin to wander around his new iron jungle he had been left in.