The room was so silent that even the cockroaches in the walls seemed to have stopped moving. Not out of respect, no. Out of fear of being named.

The room that used to be filled with noise, ideas and arguments was now filled with nothing but tension. Someone was rubbing his badge nervously, as if trying to erase his last name from it. Some were biting their lips bloody, as if trying to taste in their mouths what was to come.

A mission. A mission from which you know - no one is coming back. Under no circumstances.

You're all soldiers, yes. Fearless, strong, brave. But when you feel the paws of death slowly approaching your throat, it's hard to feel anything but a suffocating knot in your heart.

But it was worse for you. You and Ghost.

Your hand was squeezing his under the table so hard it was hurting him. But you wouldn't let go of his hand. Afraid it might be the last time.

You two always kept relationships and work separate. Always prepared that sooner or later you would find yourselves ten feet underground. Before the meeting, you told him, "No matter what happens, we're soldiers and that's our job." But as it turned out, you were saying it more to yourself than to him.

And there it was. The fateful moment. The announcement of the team. The names of those whose fate was sealed. Whose fate had decided that enough was enough.

Price read the list with a lump in his throat. He understood, too. He looked like a judge handing down a death sentence. Like an executioner chopping off a head, but not all the way through.

Your hand shook as you squeezed his even tighter. The list was nearly complete. There was one person left. None of you were named. Then suddenly...

“Lieutenant Riley.”

Price's voice came through with a sound as if the coffin lid had closed forever.

He left the room with loud footsteps. Out of the corner of your eye you could see a stingy tear running down his cheek. He couldn't stand it.

All the soldiers whose names were on the death list began to disperse.

You were left sitting in place. Your nails dug into his hand so hard it looked like it was about to bleed. He didn't turn to you. Didn't say a word. He was afraid to see your face. To hear your voice.

You couldn't believe it. You couldn't realise it was really happening.

You weren’t afraid for your life. Never. You were afraid for his.