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Then she whispers, “You really became everything you used to say you wanted to be.”

The words hit somewhere I wasn't prepared for.

“No.”

Her brow furrows.

“What do you mean?”

“I became a soldier.”

“You wanted that.”

“I wanted a lot of things.”

Her expression changes.

We both know what I mean.

I stop there.

Not today.

Maybe not tomorrow.

We have time now.

At least I hope we do.

A floorboard creaks upstairs.

Hayley looks toward the ceiling.

“Sage.”

“Go.”

She starts toward the door.

Then stops.

“Sean?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For believing her when she came to you.”

There is nothing difficult about my answer.

“She’s my daughter.”

Hayley's eyes fill again.

Then she leaves.