After a lengthy shift, the sergeant returned home to be astounded by what he saw in his home.
He had gone on a mission, leaving behind his wife and two kids.
When his duty came to an end, he was counting down the days until he could return since he could no longer stand being apart from his family for so long. Upon receiving the order to return from a special mission, he immediately packed his belongings and hurried home.
His boots were smeared with dust from far places, and his uniform was well pressed but distinctly worn.
He continued thinking about the warmth and comfort of the day he would finally return to his wife’s and kids’ house, and about the moment he would see their faces again.
He recalled the final letters his daughter had written about her younger brother and the dog that was always there to watch over them.
But when he arrived at his block, where their apartment was, his heart started to race. Something had changed, the peaceful melancholy of the street said, and the wind from the top balcony carried the smell of burning leaves.
He felt a little uneasy and afraid as he reached for the door because he had no idea what was within.
His wife was not there when he walked in, and he saw the kids by themselves with the dog.
The small child jumped up and shook, calling out, “Daddy…?”
The sergeant calmly inquired, “And where is Mommy?”
The sergeant was completely shaken by what she said, and the child froze in terror.
The sergeant froze, unable to control the surge of feelings that swept through him. His daughter was unable to talk as she gripped the dog’s paw:
“Mommy went out… with…” Her eyes spoke more than words, yet her words were lodged in her throat.
As if sensing calamity, the sergeant stepped forward, clutched his kids, and felt his heart race. He needed to comprehend what had transpired before he could make the tough choice he knew was coming.
The dog gave a low growl, as though sensing its master’s discomfort. The sergeant went from room to room in the apartment, making sure everything was clean, but his wife was nowhere to be seen. A letter was beautifully folded on the table, as though it had been there waiting for him.
His eyes opened as he carefully lifted it up; his wife’s handwriting was clearly visible, but the message struck him like a chill.
The letter started, “I can’t…” and then went on to explain that she had to leave in order to shield the kids from a threat he was unaware of while he was serving.
The sergeant dropped on his knees, gave his kids a firm embrace, and gave them a determined look. He realized that although the service was finished, the true struggle to ensure his family’s safety and happiness was only getting started.
The wind outside grew stronger, but it no longer carried discontent; instead, it represented a fresh start in which the father once more acted as his children’s shield, prepared to meet any obstacle that came their way.
