“You made that from a uniform?” Lia scoffed.
Camila’s lips curled. “He left you rags, Chelsea. And it shows.”
The words landed harder than I expected, but I didn’t let them break me. Not this time.
“I made something out of what he left me,” I said, steady.
They laughed louder.
And then the doorbell rang.
Three sharp knocks that cut through everything.
Camila opened it with visible irritation, but whatever she was about to say died in her throat.
A military officer stood on the porch, dressed in full uniform. Beside him, a woman with a briefcase.
They stepped inside, and suddenly the house felt smaller.
Quieter.
“Which one of you is Chelsea?” the officer asked.
My voice felt distant when I answered.
“I am.”
His expression softened, just slightly.
He explained why they were there—my father’s instructions, written long before, meant to be delivered tonight. Not tomorrow. Not later.
Tonight.
Leave a Comment