Mike leaned against the porch railing of his cabin, his gaze lost in the endless expanse of trees surrounding his property. The early morning light filtered through the branches, casting fragmented shadows over his weathered face. He took a slow drag of his coffee, the bitter taste grounding him against the memory that clawed its way to the surface.
It had been years since the mission that ended his military career—a mission that had started like any other but unraveled into chaos and death. He could still hear the radio static crackling in his ear, the frantic shouts of his team as they fell one by one. His orders had been clear: secure the target and retreat. But the intelligence had been faulty, the enemy forces far more entrenched and ruthless than expected. Mike had made it out alive
