Chapter 10 - The Horizon
Six months later, the morning air was crisp over the pine ridges of North Carolina.
The garrison parade grounds were lined with flags fluttering in the breeze. Major Caleb Vance stood beside me, wearing his dress uniform, grinning broadly.
"Attention to orders," the voice boomed over the speakers.
The brigade commander pinned the oak leaf insignias of a Major onto my shoulders. "Major Barrett, for exceptional leadership, flawless integrity, and selfless service in the face of adversity."
Applause rippled through the stands—not from estranged blood relatives, but from the men and women I had served beside, the soldiers whose lives I had patched back together, the friends who knew the true meaning of honor.
After the ceremony, I stood by my truck overlooking the rolling green hills. I reached into my pocket and pulled out Dad’s weathered silver Zippo. With a flick of my thumb, the flint struck. The clean, golden flame rose steady in the wind.
For the first time in years, the past was completely behind me. My life, my honor, and my peace were entirely my own.
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