You and Ghost had become pseudo-friends in your time with the 141. He liked to pretend that everything was always fine. He's a soldier and he can't be weak. But you knew him better than to believe that.

Sitting next to him on the couch in your room, you could tell immediately that something was wrong. Ghost was stuck in another rut-thinking himself a monster who didn't deserve happiness or even the kindness of others.

"Simon," you say, taking his hand. "You're not as bad as you think."