Adrian Monroe sat at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee in front of him, but he wasn’t really drinking it. His mind was elsewhere, preoccupied by the latest call he had received from his commanding officer. The military life was all he knew now, but the weight of the mission ahead hung heavily on him. A part of him still longed for the peace of a simpler life, like the one he had when he first picked up a guitar with his parents. But that life had shifted when he made the decision to enlist, following in his father’s footsteps.
The phone on the table rang, breaking him from his thoughts. He stared at it for a moment, wondering if it was the officer again. He knew it was coming, but the timing wasn’t ideal. He wasn’t ready for another deployment.
"Hello?" Adrian answered, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of exhaustion.
"Adrian," the voice on the other end was firm, familiar—Major Carlson. "We need you for an overseas mission. This is a high-priority operation, and your expertise is required. It’s all hands on deck, and we can’t afford any delays."
Adrian closed his eyes, rubbing the back of his neck. He had been expecting the call, but hearing it confirmed still made his stomach drop. "What’s the mission?" he asked, already bracing for whatever came next.
"Intelligence suggests there’s a threat brewing in a region we’ve been monitoring for months. We need someone with your field experience to lead a covert team. You’ll be gathering intel, making contact with local allies, and potentially engaging with hostile forces. You’re to leave within the next 48 hours."
The weight of it hit Adrian like a punch to the gut. "Understood, Major. I’ll prep my gear and get ready," he said, his voice more mechanical now. This was his job—his duty. But something in the back of his mind gnawed at him.
"You’ll get more details when you arrive at the base," Carlson continued. "We’ll brief you fully then."
Adrian ended the call, the familiar feeling of adrenaline mixing with dread creeping up his spine. Another mission. Another chance to prove himself, but also a reminder of the dangerous life he had chosen. He leaned back in his chair, running his hand through his hair, when he heard the door open behind him.
Sara Jane, his wife, stepped into the room. She looked at him with concern in her eyes, already knowing something was off. They’d been through deployments together before, but that didn’t make it easier.
"Is it happening?" she asked quietly.
Adrian turned to face her, his jaw tightening. "Yeah. I’m heading out in two days. They need me on a mission overseas."
Sara Jane nodded, her expression unreadable. She had always supported him, but she knew the risks that came with his work. Adrian’s time in the military was nothing compared to her own time with the Navy, but the danger and separation were the same. She was quiet for a moment, and then her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the screen, her eyes widening slightly. "It’s the Navy," she muttered, before picking up the call.
"Hello?" she answered, listening intently. Adrian stood up, instinctively moving closer, knowing this wasn’t good. She looked at him, her face hardening.
"Yeah," she continued after a brief pause, her voice becoming more serious. "I understand. I’ll be there within the hour."
She ended the call, her eyes meeting his with a mixture of determination and something else—something that felt like resignation.
"What is it?" Adrian asked, though he already had a sinking feeling in his gut.
"They’ve called me back," she said, her voice low. "I’m needed for a mission. It’s overseas. They need me on a special assignment in the same region you're heading to."
Adrian felt a pang in his chest. He had hoped that at least for once, they could avoid the complication of both of them being sent away. But the military had its own plans, and they couldn’t avoid it. Not now.
"You know what this means," he said quietly, though it wasn’t a question. Both of them being called away on missions at the same time would mean a separation—longer than they’d like, and more dangerous than either of them cared to admit.
"I know," Sara Jane replied, her voice steady, though there was a vulnerability in her eyes that Adrian hadn’t seen before. "It’s just... we’ve both made this choice. We both knew this would come. But I’ll be okay, Adrian. We both will."
Adrian nodded, but he could feel the uncertainty settling in. They had always been a team, but this time, the stakes felt higher. He could sense that both of them were holding something back—an unspoken fear that neither was willing to voice.
"You’ll be safe, right?" Adrian asked, stepping closer to her, his hand reaching for hers.
Sara Jane smiled faintly, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I’ll do my best. You know I won’t go in unprepared. And I’ll be with people I trust."
Adrian closed his eyes, nodding, trying to calm the rising anxiety in his chest. "Same here. I’ll be fine. I just... I don’t want to leave you like this."
Sara Jane squeezed his hand, pulling him into a tight hug. "We’ll get through it. We always do."
But as they stood there in silence, the reality of the situation crept in—their lives would be separate once again. Another mission. Another round of uncertainty and danger.
"I need to make some calls," Adrian said after a while, breaking the quiet. "I’ll get everything sorted. But I’ll be home before we both go, okay?"
"Okay," Sara Jane replied, though her voice was thick with emotion. "Just promise me we’ll make it back. Together."
Adrian’s heart tightened at the weight of her words. "I promise."
And with that, both of them knew that the next few months would be filled with danger and distance, but they would face it the same way they always did—with the belief that no matter what, they’d return home to each other.
Adrian took a deep breath, trying to push aside the gnawing feeling in his gut. He had a mission to focus on, and Sara Jane had hers. But their shared promise to make it back together was the only thing that mattered now.
