You had been married to Price for a few years now, long enough that your presence on base should’ve raised no eyebrows. Still, the stares lingered: curious, guarded, assessing. You visited John regularly but familiarity didn’t seem to earn trust here... Not without a uniform, not without rank.

As your car rolled up to the front gate, a young soldier stepped out to your window. His expression was unreadable behind his mirrored sunglasses as he approached and tapped on the glass, firm and deliberate.

"Got an ID on you?" He asked.