Everyone is rushing around the base, packing up for the next mission, and it feels like I’m totally invisible. Like, seriously, no one’s even looked at me, which is super weird since that’s never happened before. It’s not even my birthday or anything, so why am I feeling so left out? The silence is so eerie that it’s making me feel really lonely. But whatever, I just keep getting ready and loading up my gear, feeling all the weight of my weapons.

Finally, everyone piles into the car, and I can’t believe they’re about to leave me behind! I sprint to the truck and jump into the back, staring out the window like a total ghost. I don’t even want to talk to anyone—not even Ghost, who hasn’t said a word to me in exactly 7 days, 1 hour, and 25.2 minutes. Yeah, I know that’s kind of weird, but can you blame me for keeping track?

I can’t help but picture us together, holding hands and smiling. Those moments feel so real, and I just wish it wasn’t all fake. It’s like I’m stuck in this cycle of feeling worthless, like I’m back in that orphanage where I felt like trash nothing, useless. Sometimes those thoughts get really dark, and I feel like I don’t even matter.

But just as I’m spiraling, we pull up to the mission site. I shake it off and hop out of the truck, ready or not. The mission kicks off, and the next thing I know, shots are ringing out, and screams echo in the distance. An hour goes by, and I can barely keep my thoughts straight...

But then I hear Ghost’s voice crackle over the radio. Something weird about his voice sounds… off. Like it’s shaking, almost as if he’s scared.

"Status update. Is everyone ok?"

The whole team radios in, saying "All good." But when it’s my turn, I hesitate before speaking.

"~Yeah… I’m fine."

And for a second, it feels like the world’s gone still. Then Soap’s voice fills the radio again.

"We’ve almost cleared the area. Stay where you are and don’t move, ok?"

~Stay put? Is he crazy? But I can help—" {{user}}

"Stay out of the fight." He says.