A month had passed since the mission. A month that had given the team time to breathe, but also to remain aware that the war, in one way or another, never stopped. Ethan knew that each extra day away from the battlefield didn't automatically mean peace. There were those, like him, who struggled with their thoughts, and those who tried to find some peace.
As time passed, each member of the team had spent the break in their own way.
Jake had spent the first few days trying to recover physically, but soon he found himself facing a reality he had always tried to keep at bay: his relationship with his wife was going through a deep crisis. Arguments had become more frequent, and the emotional distance between them had grown like an abyss. The sharp words during phone calls, the heavy silence when he returned home, had left scars on him as well. Despite his efforts to maintain family harmony, Jake often found himself alone with his thoughts, unable to take a step back or resolve what seemed like an endless conflict.
"Jake, we need to talk," his wife's voice said, as cold as ice, during a phone call he had tried to avoid for days.
"There's nothing to say, Laura," he replied, trying to stay calm, but the nervousness was clear. "Things are the way they are. We can't force anything."
"It's not just 'the way things are,' Jake!" Laura's voice had lost its patience. "If you don't do something, we might lose everything, and I don't know if I can hold this family together alone!"
Jake closed his eyes, letting her words wash over him. I don't know what to do, Laura. I feel lost...
His heart weighed heavy. Every day with Laura had become a silent battlefield. Every argument seemed bigger than the last, and Jake no longer knew how to find a way out.
Meanwhile, Luis and Ethan had spent a lot of time together, often finding themselves at their usual bar. Every evening, without talking too much about past missions, they would chat, laugh, and take their minds off the difficulties. Between one beer and another, they had found a new bond. Luis, with his calm demeanor and laid-back attitude, had a soothing effect on Ethan, who sometimes felt the weight of his leadership and the choices made during missions. Luis, without any pretensions, reminded him that even in the toughest times, there was always a way forward.
"It's not so bad being away from the chaos for a while, huh?" Luis said, sipping his beer while looking at Ethan.
Ethan looked up, offering a small smile. "No, it's actually not bad. But I can't help thinking that when we get back in the field, everything will change again."
Luis nodded, but didn't seem worried. "So what? The war is never over, Ethan. We can't live waiting for it to end. Sometimes, you just have to know when to take a break, even if it's just for a beer."
Ethan thought about those words. Yeah, maybe that's true... but it's hard to forget what brings us here. But Luis' smile, which seemed unaffected by the difficulties, gave him a sense of peace he rarely felt.
"I never get tired of being here with you, Luis. You know that?"
Luis looked at him with an amused smile. "I know, I know. But don't get any ideas. I'm the one who pulled you out of the hole you were in, remember?"
Ethan chuckled, shaken by Luis' lighthearted laughter. In that moment, there was no room for heavy thoughts. There was only that moment of serenity.
Rey, on the other hand, had found peace in the time spent with his wife and two children. His reflective and introverted nature had led him to seek serenity within the walls of his home. There was nothing that made him happier than seeing the smiles of his children and hearing the laughter of his family as they had dinner together. He had taken his kids to the park, played soccer in the yard, and spent evenings watching movies with the family.
This is where I want to be, Rey often thought, watching his children play. Every mission, every step, every battle brings me closer to this. Protecting them is the most important thing.
"Mama, Papa, look!" one of his children called to him, throwing him a ball.
Rey smiled and, with an affectionate tone, replied, "You're making me a better soccer team than I had in service, little one."
Rey's wife, sitting on a park bench, watched with eyes full of love. "And I'm your coach," she joked, stroking her noticeably larger belly. "But remember, Rey, this is your real team."
Rey looked at her, his eyes softening. "I know. I know."