“Well, I’m proud of you, Alex,” he said finally, the words carrying the weight of a thousand unspoken conversations. “Thank you,” I replied, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. “That means a lot.”
Reins, who had been observing the exchange with a practiced eye, stepped forward again, extending his hand.
“It truly is an honor, ma’am,” he said. “If there’s anything you need, any time you need it, you just let me know.”
I shook his hand, grateful for the gesture. “Thank you, Commander,” I said, “but today, I just want a cold drink and some time with my family.”
He nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.
“I think we can arrange that,” he said, stepping aside to let me pass. As I moved through the crowd, I felt the eyes on me, not with the weight of judgement, but with a newfound respect. My father walked beside me, his arm draped over my shoulders, a proud smile on his face.
“Let’s get you that drink,” he said, leading me towards the cooler where the ice was slowly melting. “And maybe after, you can tell me some of those stories.”
I smiled, feeling the tension of the past year slip away. “Maybe I will,” I said, enjoying the simple pleasure of being home.
And just like that, the world slipped back into motion, the chatter and laughter returning to the backyard, now infused with a new understanding and an unspoken promise of stories yet to be shared.
