I stumbled onto the rain-slick stone steps while my family disappeared through the massive bronze doors without looking back.
For a moment, I stood there in the cold.
Four years of sacrifice.
Four years of sleepless nights.
Four years of relentless training.
All dismissed by the people whose approval I had spent my life chasing.
The Officer They Were Waiting For
Then the rain stopped falling on me.
A large black umbrella appeared overhead.
I looked up.
Standing in front of me was General Marcus Ellison, the academy Commandant, dressed in full ceremonial uniform.
His expression changed instantly.
“Captain Reed?” he said in disbelief. “Why are you standing out here?”
I could not answer.
“The Board of Governors, senior command staff, and every distinguished guest have been looking for you for nearly thirty minutes.”
He glanced toward the doors where my family had just entered.
Then he looked back at me.
