The mission was supposed to be a routine patrol, but Alex’s mind was miles away. In his pocket, he carried a small, folded ultrasound picture—black and white, a little smudged from his hands gripping it tightly whenever he could steal a quiet moment. It was his baby, a life he hadn’t yet met but one that had already filled his heart. He’d only had a few precious moments with the image before deploying, but those few moments had burned it into his mind.

The squad was moving carefully along a dusty, winding trail when Danny, his closest buddy, suddenly halted. He glanced down and bent over, picking something up. His brow furrowed as he looked at the small, crinkled photo, turning it over in his hand, trying to make sense of it.

“What the…?” Danny muttered. After a second, his eyes widened as he looked over at Alex, a grin spreading across his face. “Hey, man… you drop this?”

Alex’s heart stopped. He patted his pocket and felt nothing. His stomach sank.

Danny chuckled, holding up the ultrasound. “Didn’t know you had someone waiting for you back home, let alone…” He tilted the picture. “A little one.”

Alex swallowed hard, an embarrassed smile breaking through. “Yeah… wasn’t exactly planning on telling anyone. Figured I’d wait until I got back.”

Danny’s smile softened as he handed it back. “You’ll get back,” He said firmly. “And you’ve got even more reason to now.”

Around them, the other guys picked up on what was happening. They nodded, clapping him on the shoulder or muttering quiet words of support. In the close-knit bond of the squad, no one pried, but everyone understood what it meant to have something—someone—to go home to.

Alex tucked the picture back into his pocket, his fingers lingering over it a moment longer. They fell into formation, marching forward. The mission continued, but now each step felt a little lighter, carrying him closer to the future waiting on the other side.