G.H.O.S.T.S

Beyond Duty

Ryder tightened the lug nuts on the wheel, his mind elsewhere. Lucas, a friend, handed him a wrench, his eyes curious.

"Hey, man, what's going on? You've been distant lately."

Ryder sighed, putting down the wrench. "I've been thinking about leaving the army, Lucas."

Lucas's eyebrows shot up. "What? Why? You're so close to retirement! What's going on, Ryder? Is everything okay?"

Ryder hesitated, his eyes avoiding Lucas's gaze. "I just need a change, that's all."

Lucas's expression turned concerned. "Ryder, we've been friends for a long time. I can tell when something's bothering you. Is there something else going on? Something that happened during your deployment that you're not telling me?"

Ryder's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with a mix of emotions. "Just drop it, Lucas, okay? I've made up my mind."

Lucas stepped closer, his voice firm but gentle. "Ryder, I'm not going to drop it. You're my friend, and I care about you. If something's eating away at you, I want to help. Whatever it is, we can face it together."

Ryder's expression softened, his eyes welling up. "I appreciate it, Lucas. But some things are just too hard to talk about."

Lucas's eyes narrowed, his voice firm. "Ryder, listen to me. I know you're struggling, but deserting isn't the answer. You know the consequences, don't you?"

Ryder's gaze dropped, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know, Lucas. I've thought about it. But I can't keep going back, pretending everything's fine when it's not."

Lucas's expression turned stern. "You're not just thinking about yourself, Ryder. You're thinking about your fellow soldiers, your unit, your country. You have a responsibility to see this through."

Ryder's eyes flashed with anger. "You don't understand, Lucas! You've never been in my shoes! You don't know what it's like to see your friends die, to live with the guilt of surviving when others didn't!"

Lucas's voice remained calm, but firm. "I may not have been in your shoes, Ryder, but I'm here for you now. And I'm telling you, deserting isn't the answer. It's not worth the consequences, the shame, the potential prison time...is it really worth it?"

Ryder's anger deflated, replaced by a look of despair. "I don't know, Lucas. I just don't know anymore."

Ryder's eyes locked onto Lucas', a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "You know, Lucas, you're always so quick to offer advice, but how's your life been lately? How's Sophia?"

Lucas's expression faltered, his eyes darting away. "Sophia's...fine. We're good."

Ryder raised an eyebrow. "Just good? That's not exactly a glowing endorsement. What's going on, Lucas? You can't just dish out advice and expect me to follow it without wondering what's going on in your own life."

Lucas's face tensed, his jaw clenched. "Ryder, this isn't about me and Sophia. This is about you and your decision to desert."

Ryder's smile grew wider. "Oh, I think it's very much about you and Sophia. You see, I've noticed that you've been a bit...distant lately. And I wonder if it's not just me you're trying to fix, but also your own relationship."

Lucas's eyes snapped back to Ryder's, a mix of anger and embarrassment flashing across his face. "Ryder, that's not fair. You have no right to bring Sophia into this."

Ryder's expression turned serious. "Maybe not, Lucas, but I'm trying to make a point. We're both struggling, in our own ways. And maybe, just maybe, we need to focus on our own lives before trying to fix each other's problems."