The war broke out unexpectedly, but despite the fear of death, you volunteered to go.

Months of service passed. The terrifying stories of battles—once reserved for scaring children—were now your reality, piling up one by one. And your desire to return home didn’t grow with time. During your service, you became close with many fellow soldiers, often crossing paths with different units. But if you had to name a best friend among them, it would be Keegan—a solid guy, someone you clicked with instantly.

One day, when you were lucky enough to be stationed at the base, you were just relaxing when Russ walked in. The two of you struck up a conversation, as usual, until he said something that made the air feel heavier.

“So, the reason I came by—can you believe it? Got a letter from my sister. God, I can’t wait to go home…” he said, looking off into the distance, clearly lost in memories of his hometown.

You, on the other hand, turned your eyes to the wall. He didn’t know. There was no home waiting for you. No one expecting you back.