Life Dust: A Novel

Nettie and Andy have been soul mates since childhood, but Andy receives orders to deploy to South Vietnam for a year, leaving Nettie to work as a nursing intern in the hospital emergency room. When Nettie accidentally walks in on a nursing supervisor and surgeon during a late-night tryst, they initiate a campaign to end her career before it starts. In Southeast Asia, Andy is leading a long-range reconnaissance squad when he receives orders to escort a high-ranking female freedom fighter, Bien, to a clandestine meeting with an enemy officer who wants to defect. Nettie and Andy navigate the best and worst of human nature as they try to find their way back to each other.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 11 October 2022
Publisher: She Writes Press

Nettie and Andy have been inseparable since their childhood, their bond growing stronger with each passing year. Their love was a beacon of light in a world often clouded by darkness, and they were determined to spend the rest of their lives together. However, their happiness was short-lived when Andy received orders from the Army to deploy immediately to South Vietnam for a year. Nettie was heartbroken, but she knew that she had to be strong for him.

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, Nettie threw herself into her work as a nursing intern in the hospital emergency room. She was determined to make a difference in the lives of those who were suffering, and she worked tirelessly to hone her skills and knowledge. However, her dedication to her work was not without its challenges. One night, as she was making her rounds, Nettie inadvertently walked in on a nursing supervisor and surgeon during a late-night tryst.

The sight of their intimacy sent Nettie's world crashing down around her. She was devastated, and her anger and resentment towards the supervisor and surgeon grew stronger with each passing day. She knew that they had betrayed her trust and that they were responsible for breaking up her relationship with Andy.

Determined to seek revenge, Nettie launched a campaign to end the supervisor's and surgeon's careers before they had a chance to start. She used her connections within the hospital to gather evidence against them, and she relentlessly pursued them until they were forced to resign.

Despite her success, Nettie's anger and resentment continued to consume her. She found solace in an elderly patient who had everything money could buy—except the one thing he wanted. The patient was a wealthy businessman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and he was desperate to find a way to prolong his life.

Nettie saw an opportunity to use her skills and knowledge to help the patient, and she poured her heart and soul into his care. She worked tirelessly to provide him with the best possible treatment, and she became his confidante and friend. However, as time went on, Nettie began to develop feelings for the patient.

Meanwhile, Andy was leading a long-range reconnaissance squad in an unforgiving jungle in Southeast Asia. He had been deployed to the region to gather intelligence on the enemy's movements, and he was determined to protect his fellow soldiers and bring them home safely. However, his mission was not without its risks.

One day, Andy received orders to escort a high-ranking female freedom fighter, Bien, to a clandestine meeting with an enemy officer who wanted to defect. Bien had been previously raped, beaten, and left for dead by North Vietnamese soldiers, and she was suspicious of the enemy officer's motives. She also thought that he may be the younger brother her attackers conscripted into their army as a child.

Andy, meanwhile, believed that his unit was walking into a trap that could cost them everything. He knew that the enemy was skilled in deception, and he was determined to be vigilant and cautious. As they made their way through the jungle, Andy and Bien navigated the best and worst of human nature as they tried to find their way back to each other.

Nettie, meanwhile, was struggling to survive in a world that had become foreign to her. She was consumed by her anger and resentment, and she felt like she had lost everything that had once meant anything to her. However, she was determined to find a way to move forward, and she began to see the value in her work as a nurse.

As the months passed, Nettie and Andy continued to navigate their separate worlds, but their love for each other never wavered. They wrote letters to each other, sharing their hopes and fears and their dreams for the future. They knew that their journey was not easy, but they were willing to face any challenge that came their way.

Finally, after a year of separation, Andy was able to return home. Nettie was waiting for him at the airport, and their reunion was emotional and overwhelming. They held each other tightly, tears streaming down their faces as they realized that they had been through so much together and that their love had only grown stronger.

In the years that followed, Nettie and Andy built a life together that was filled with love, laughter, and adventure. They traveled the world, exploring new cultures and meeting new people. They faced challenges and setbacks, but they always faced them together, and their love was a constant source of strength and support.

Looking back on their journey, Nettie and Andy knew that they had been through the worst of times and the best of times. They had been tested in ways that they never could have imagined, but they had emerged stronger and more resilient than ever before. They knew that their love was a gift that they would cherish for the rest of their lives, and they were grateful for every moment that they had spent together.

In conclusion, Nettie and Andy's story is a testament to the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit

In conclusion, Nettie and Andy's story is a testament to the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit. Their journey was filled with heartache, betrayal, and hardship, but they never gave up on each other. They faced their challenges head-on, and their love grew stronger with each passing day. Through their struggles, they learned the value of forgiveness, compassion, and resilience, and they emerged from their ordeal as better people than they had ever been before.

Their story is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, love can bring light and hope. It is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of perseverance. Nettie and Andy's love story is a beautiful example of the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit, and it will continue to inspire generations to come.

Weight: 404g
Dimension: 139 x 215 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781647420918