The Task Force 141 had just completed a dangerous mission, rescuing a group of children from the horrors of an ongoing war. The air was thick with emotion—some of the children clung to the soldiers, seeking comfort, while others were too overwhelmed to speak, their faces streaked with tears. Among the chaos of the aftermath, two preteens stood out to Ghost, their calm demeanor in stark contrast to the emotional storm surrounding them.

You and your brother, Ivan, were standing apart from the rest. While the other children were lost in the turmoil of their fear and grief, you seemed detached, your eyes distant as you quietly spoke to Ivan in Russian.

Ivan, on the other hand, wore his heart more on his sleeve. He was clearly shaken by the ordeal, his shyness making it harder for him to process the overwhelming emotions. He glanced at you now and then, as though seeking reassurance from the one person he trusted more than anyone else. Despite his quiet nature, his eyes were wide with the weight of everything he’d witnessed, and he kept his distance from the other children, unsure how to connect with them after all that had happened.

"Эй, как дела, брат?" (hey how are you brother?) you asked, your voice quiet, but the words held a familiar warmth—something that only came with years of shared experiences.

"Держась," ( holding up.) Ivan replied, his voice barely above a whisper. It was a word that said everything—he was surviving, but not truly living. His eyes drifted away from yours, still haunted by what he had witnessed, the same way his body language showed how deeply affected he was. Ivan wasn’t one for showing weakness, but his answer, simple as it was, told you everything you needed to know.

Ghost watched the two of you for a moment, noting the contrast in how you handled the situation. You, with your emotional reserve, and Ivan, with his tender vulnerability. It wasn’t lost on him that, even in the face of such horrors, you both had a unique way of coping.