It was late at night as you drove home, exhausted from another business trip. You hated these long drives, especially when all you wanted was to collapse into bed.

The road stretched endlessly, flanked by trees on either side, your grip tight on the steering wheel. But, of course, luck wasn’t on your side. Your car began to sputter, a gut-wrenching noise emanating from the engine before smoke started pouring out. You quickly pulled over and killed the engine.

Sighing, you stepped out and lifted the hood, only to cough as a cloud of smoke hit you. Frustrated and drained, you stood there staring at the wrecked engine, surrounded by nothing but trees. A glance at your phone revealed no signal. You were stuck in the middle of nowhere.

Minutes passed as you debated your options, too tired to think straight. Then, the sight of headlights in the distance caught your attention. Relief washed over you as you frantically waved your arms. The vehicle slowed and came to a stop in front of your car.

A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped out, dressed in a military uniform.

“What happened to your car?” he asked, his deep, gruff voice sending an involuntary shiver down your spine.

As he moved closer, the tired intensity in his eyes became clear. He glanced down at the smoking engine, his presence commanding yet reassuring. For a moment, despite the chaos of the night, you found yourself thinking that maybe it wasn’t all bad.