Location: UNSC Field Hospital, Avenport, Virek
Date and Time: April 2, 2553 – 1300 Hours
The sun is high outside the window, casting sharp rays of light into the room. I've been here longer than I ever thought I would be—too long, if you ask me. My body feels almost back to normal, the dull ache in my side fading more with each day. It won't be much longer before they clear me to return to the field.
But the closer I get to leaving, the more conflicted I feel.
I've been itching to get back to the squad, to take charge of Bravo Fireteam again, to be out there fighting with them. But with each passing day, I find myself looking forward to seeing Emily more than I expected. Every conversation we have, every moment of silence between us—it all pulls me in deeper.
She comes in with her usual smile, carrying a clipboard and a fresh set of supplies. "How are we feeling today?" she asks, her voice light but warm.
"Better," I say, giving her a small smile. "They'll probably release me soon."
She pauses, her hand tightening slightly on the clipboard before she nods. "That's good. You're healing well."
There's a subtle shift in the air between us, a weight that wasn't there before. She's happy that I'm getting better, I can tell. But there's something else—something neither of us wants to say out loud. When I leave, things will change. We both know it.
Emily sits down on the edge of the bed, her smile fading just a little. "You'll be back with your squad soon. That's what you've been waiting for."
"Yeah," I reply, but the usual excitement isn't there. I'm glad I'll be back in the fight, but something feels off. I'm not as ready to leave as I thought I'd be.
She looks down at her hands, her fingers idly tracing the edges of the clipboard. "It'll be different. When you go back."
Her words hang in the air, and I can feel the tension between us, something unspoken but strong. It's not just about leaving the hospital—it's about leaving her. And for the first time since the war started, I'm not sure I want to.
"I know," I say quietly, not sure what else to say. "It's just… hard."
Emily looks up, her eyes meeting mine. "You don't have to figure it all out right now. You've got your duty, and I get that. But that doesn't mean you have to shut everything else out."
Her words hit me harder than I expected. I've spent so long focusing on the war, on being a soldier, that I never thought about what else there could be. Now, sitting here with her, I realize there's more I want—something outside of the battlefield.
But can I have both?
The silence between us stretches out, heavy with the weight of unspoken feelings. I can see the conflict in her eyes too—she understands what I'm going through, but that doesn't make it any easier.
Finally, she stands up, setting the clipboard aside. "You'll do what you have to do," she says, her voice soft. "But just remember, there's more to life than the next mission."
She turns to leave, but before she reaches the door, I speak up. "Emily."
She stops, looking back at me, and for a moment, I'm not sure what I want to say. I just know that I don't want to leave things like this.
"Thanks," I say, my voice quiet. "For everything."
Her smile returns, but it's softer this time. "You're welcome, Kowalski. Take care of yourself."
Location: UNSC Field Hospital, Avenport, Virek
Date and Time: April 4, 2553 – 1000 Hours
Two days later, the doctors clear me for duty. The moment I've been waiting for is here, but instead of relief, I feel a knot tightening in my chest.
I sit on the edge of the hospital bed, dressed in my gear, my bag packed and ready to go. The doctors have already signed off on my release, and I should be heading back to the front any minute now.
But I keep thinking about Emily.
She hasn't come by today, not since the last conversation we had. Maybe she's busy. Or maybe she's giving me space. Either way, the thought of leaving without saying goodbye gnaws at me.
I stand up, grabbing my bag and slinging it over my shoulder. It's time to go. Time to get back to the squad, back to the war. But as I walk toward the door, I hesitate.
Just as I'm about to leave, the door opens, and there she is. Emily stands in the doorway, her eyes locking onto mine. There's a moment of silence, the air thick with everything we haven't said.
"You're leaving," she says, her voice soft but steady.
"Yeah," I reply, trying to keep my tone neutral. "Got cleared this morning."
She nods, stepping into the room. "I figured as much."
For a moment, neither of us moves. There's so much I want to say, but the words stick in my throat. I don't know how to explain the pull I feel—to be with the squad and to stay here, with her.
Finally, Emily speaks. "Just… promise me one thing."
I look at her, waiting.
"Don't forget that there's more to life than this war," she says, her voice quiet but firm. "Don't forget that you're more than just a soldier."
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. It's everything I've been struggling with, everything I haven't been able to admit. I nod, swallowing hard. "I'll try."
She steps closer, her eyes softening as she reaches out and gently touches my arm. "Good luck out there, Kowalski. And… be careful."
"I will," I say, my voice rough with emotion.
We stand there for a moment longer, neither of us wanting to break the connection, but knowing we have to.
As I walk out of the hospital, the weight of my gear feels heavier than usual. The squad is waiting for me. The war is waiting for me. But for the first time, I leave something behind that I don't want to forget.
Emily. And the possibility of something more.
Location: UNSC Forward Operating Base, Avenport, Virek
Date and Time: April 5, 2553 – 0600 Hours
The base feels familiar, but different. It's good to be back with Bravo Fireteam, but there's something in me that's shifted. The war is still out there, and I'm ready to fight. But there's more now. More than just duty.
As I gear up for the next mission, the team gathers around, joking and laughing like nothing's changed. Santiago claps me on the back, grinning. "Good to have you back, Kowalski. Thought you were gonna get too comfortable in that hospital."
I chuckle, though my mind is elsewhere. "Yeah, well, can't stay in there forever."
But even as I suit up, ready for the next battle, I can't shake the thought of Emily. Her words, her smile, the way she looked at me before I left. The war is still out there, but now I know there's something else too—something worth fighting for, even after the war is over.