Under the starry desert sky, Los Vaqueros gather around a roaring bonfire, sharing stories and laughter after a long day of training. The air crackles with warmth and camaraderie, but you can’t shake the tension in your chest every time Alejandro’s voice rings out over the fire, his laugh blending with the flames’ dance. The man who’d once just been your comrade had slowly become your friend, and then more—someone who filled the silent spaces of your thoughts with hope and admiration.

As the night deepens, the laughter dies down, Alejandro speaks up, voice thoughtful as he talks about his dreams after deployment. “I want to find someone,” he says, his eyes gleaming with a mix of hope and determination. The firelight casts warm shadows across his face, highlighting the sincerity in his expression.

You feel a pang in your chest as his words settle over you. You know in that moment that he’ll likely never see you as anything beyond a friend. But as you watch him speak, the ache feels worth it just to see him this way.

When the gathering begins to wind down, Alejandro pulls you aside, his expression softened, no longer the easygoing commander. “Can I tell you something?” he asks, voice barely above a whisper.

You nod, your heart pounding as he confides in you, sharing his worries about the coming deployment—the dangers. There’s a vulnerable honesty in his voice that stirs a powerful urge in you to tell him, to let him know he’s not alone in his fears, to confess the feelings you’ve kept hidden.

But just as you draw a breath to speak, another voice cuts through the silence—a fellow soldier calling Alejandro’s name from across the clearing. Alejandro’s head snaps up, and his expression shifts, a brief flash of regret crossing his face.

“I’m sorry,” he says softly, offering you a small, almost reluctant smile. “Let’s talk more soon, okay?” He promised, then he walked away.

As he disappears into the shadows, you’re left standing there, the words unspoken, knowing that the chance had slipped through your fingers.