My First "Red Line Message"

Before Chris left, he gave me the name and number of one of his SGT's wife and said that if I needed anything to call her and that if anything happened to him, she would call me. I didn't think anything of it and just tossed the number. I figured I wont need anything and nothing is going to happen to Chris, so I'm good. Well, yesterday while I was shopping with Sadie, for some maternity clothes, I got a call from a 253 area code. My battery had been beeping low for over an hour and it had already cut off earlier while I was talking to mom, so my initial thought was to ignore the call because my phone would probably just die anyways, but then something told me to just answer it. When I answered the call I was actually in a dressing room trying on clothes. She said her name and let me know she was calling with a "Red Line Message". Not knowing what that meant, I said 'OK' and paused. She continued to tell me she was going to ready the information she received. She said that there was in incident during a mission where a bunch of people were injured in a specific company of the battalion. She then said, if your soldier was wounded, you will get a 2nd call later today, and if your soldier was not, he will personally call you when he is given the opportunity. And that was it...she said good bye and my phone died. I have no idea how my phone made it through that 7 minute call in the first place, but I am so grateful it did.

Sitting in the dressing room I starting to panic, tears filled my eyes and I had the sickest feeling come over me. Luckily Sadie was with me and could give me a hug and tell me it was going to be ok. All I could think about was, We are having a baby in a few months and our baby needs a daddy...Chris has to be ok, he has to come home safe, he's only been gone a few weeks! I quickly changed back into my clothes and we raced out of the store and went directly to the Verizon store to buy a new battery, so I could answer hopefully my husbands call. If not answer the 2nd call to tell me he was hurt. I got a new battery and waited anxiously for another call from somebody, but nothing! Sadie encouraged me to relax and just finish shopping, so we did. Hours and hours passed and still no phone call. Bed time came and still no phone call...Finally at about 2am, Chris called! It was so comforting to hear his voice and know that he was ok.

I never want to get another call like that, but unfortunately they will probably happen again.