We Are Called to Rise

Luis is learning how to walk again. He tries to find amusement in the process, even though it is difficult. When he returns to his room, a nurse informs Luis that a man who looked “like a soldier” (169) was searching for him; he misses Nevada and wonders if he will end up court marshaled because of his actions. The unknown man eventually returns, but Luis doesn’t recognize him. The stranger introduces himself as his father’s brother, Uncle Mike. His uncle seems upset that Luis doesn’t know about him, but Luis’s father died before Luis was born, so Luis never had contact with his father’s side of the family. Mike says he shouldn’t have come and begins to leave, but Luis calls him back. His uncle takes out a rosary passed down by Luis’s grandfather, explaining its importance as a family relic, and puts it on Luis’s lap before leaving. Luis is left wondering why.

Luis reminisces about being in Catholic school and recalls a nun who didn’t believe in God, yet who continued living under her vows. This confused Luis, since he prayed regularly in Iraq, even though he thought it didn’t matter. When Dr. Ghosh comes in, he is surprised by Mike’s visit and asks Luis how he wants to handle it.