Summary

In Chapter 15, Parnell describes in her personal journal the events of the day that Camp Taqaddum was hit by a bomb. She was walking with the Sir to the mess tent when the bomb exploded. In the silence that followed the blast, Parnell looked at the Sir who was laying next to her. She indicates in her writing that he looked fine, just a little vague. It turned out he was staring at “something none of us could see” (185).

In her truck, Parnell pulled out the picture of Malik. She remembered how she had continued to try to get custody of him even after she had returned to the United States. One day, however, Malik disappeared from the Marine base and was never seen again. It was assumed that relatives had come for him. Parnell hoped that was true but in her gut...