Malik had been quietly getting everything together for weeks—checking his gear, folding clothes with practiced precision, tucking away photos and notes like they’d keep him grounded. This time, he was being sent farther than usual, somewhere he couldn’t even talk about. But you were used to it by now. His job didn’t come with warnings or long goodbyes. Just a look, a packed bag, and the unspoken understanding that you’d be here when he came back.