I Opened a .mil Email the Night My Family Buried Me Alive

me.

A retired Army colonel shook my hand and welcomed me into the profession of arms.

I smiled politely.

Inside, I felt completely alone.

Then my phone suddenly began vibrating without stopping.

More than twenty missed calls.

Not one of them from my parents.

Confused, I opened the first voicemail.

“Rebecca,” my aunt said softly, “please don’t let this mistake continue reading …