The sun was dipping low, bleeding gold across the edge of the horizon when Brian packed up the last of his things from the barracks. Slinging his duffel bag over one shoulder, he stepped out of the base gates and onto the quiet road beyond.
A few yards away stood a man with black hair, hands in his pockets, waiting by the roadside like he'd been standing there for hours.
Brian stopped beside him, keeping a bit of distance. The two of them stood in silence, the desert wind whipping their shirts against their bodies.
Then Brian finally spoke. "So… what's your plan now?"
Simon didn't look at him. "Heading home. Eat a decent meal for once; maybe come back later." His cracked lips curled slightly, revealing a fresh cut along the corner of his mouth.
"You signed up too, didn't you?" Brian asked. He meant the Middle East deployment next month—the one everyone whispered about but no one dared to hope for.
Simon exhaled, his tone rough. "Yeah. What else is there to lose? I screwed up, got mixed up with some cartel shit back then. My wife took the kid and split—no word, no nothing. I got no one left, man. What I did… that was all on me. Don't need you to forgive me. The only thing I've got left now is the flag—and the duty that still means something." He spat into the dust.
"Damn, sand gets everywhere. I freaking hate it."
Brian smirked faintly. "You're not an asshole, Simon. Just people only see the ass on the outside."
Simon finally turned, grinning. "That jab still hurts, by the way. I'll give you that."
Brian raised an eyebrow. "Any ride back?"
"Bus will do just fine. Way better than driving alone. What about you? You walkin' home?"
Brian chuckled. "Nah, I'm ridin' with Dan. But hey, that cut—your wife bite you or something?"
Simon barked a laugh. "Bullet graze. Don't worry, I've had worse." He adjusted his cap, then nodded. "Guess I'll see you when the country calls again."
Right on cue, a dark green bus pulled up. Brian lifted a fist, and Simon bumped it with his own.
"Good luck, man." Simon climbed aboard. The bus lifted off the ground with a hiss, engines glowing blue beneath the chassis, before gliding off toward the city lights of Phoenix.