The rain lashed relentlessly against the windows as you pushed open the door to the small London café. You hadn't expected to see him there Gaz, in civilian clothes, without his uniform, just a man trying to find his footing in everyday life after months of deployment. His gaze met yours, a tentative smile playing on his lips, as if he wanted to both greet you and maintain a certain distance. But in that moment, it didn't feel like a soldier was standing before you, but rather someone who had finally learned to breathe deeply again.