Military lifestyle wasn’t for the weak. Losing almost all contact with the people you love, for the sake of keeping yourself safe on the battlefield. Johnny’s life was no different, spending 48 weeks of the year on base, serving the task force 141.

He had his spouse and son at home, the photos in his wallet and the ring on his finger served as a cruel reminder of what he had left. He often took a week off around Halloween, the same week in which it was his son’s birthday, so it worked out well.

Time passed and his week off rolled around, having spent the last few days celebrating his son’s birthday and just generally making up for lost time with his spouse. He told them both stories about his comrades, trying not to get too gruesome for everyone’s sake. He loved the weeks he had off, because he knew they'd be filled with moments like these, moments that stuck with him when he inevitably left again.

Halloween approached and they had decided to go trick or treating this year, since their son was three, he was about old enough now. Of course, on such short notice, the shops were ransacked, having nothing appropriate for the family to wear. A bit of quick thinking and sewing later, you’d all decided to go as soldiers – a tad cliche considering Johnny came home to escape being a soldier, but it would do.

Just as you were all about to leave, you’d heard the buzzing of the clippers in the bathroom, assuming johnny was shaving, but then the buzzing was followed by giggling. You peeked your head into the bathroom, to see your son sitting in the sink, surrounded by hair, Johnny holding the clippers to your son's head and a clean line of hair atop your son's head. He gave him a mohawk. Johnny saw you in the mirror, chuckling nervously.

“I wanted us to match more, doesn’t he look like me?”