Chapter 1 : Back Home
(Narrator: Josh)
The engine finally shuts off, and I stay seated, motionless, in the car. My neighborhood is quiet, almost deserted, with just a few scattered lights casting long shadows across the sidewalk. The silence is complete—a stark contrast to what I’ve been living through these past months. Over there, there was always noise. Always voices, vehicles, weapons. But here, it’s… peaceful. And yet, that peace feels suffocating, like it’s highlighting all the chaos still swirling inside me.
I take a deep breath and stretch before finally opening the car door. The cool evening air wraps around me instantly, sharper than I expected for this time of year. The chill jolts me back to reality. I’m home. At last. I glance around; the street looks exactly as I left it. But somehow, it also feels slightly off—or maybe it’s just me who’s different.
My steps are heavy, each one a reminder of the weeks spent on edge, watching my back, looking out for my team. Now that it’s over, my body refuses to relax. Not even here, at home. I cross the yard, climb the porch steps slowly, and pause in front of the door, savoring this moment of being back.
I dig through my pockets for my keys, but my phone buzzes before I find them. Pulling it out, I smile faintly at the name on the screen.
- Jessica (text): “Finally home?“
Jessica—my little sister. Always the first to reach out, to welcome me, even from a distance. Through all my time away, she was my tether to the world outside the chaos, the world where war didn’t exist. We texted almost every week—small updates, ordinary details that reminded me there was still a life waiting for me. And now that I’m back, the thought of seeing her in person fills me with joy.
Leaning against the door, I quickly type a reply.
- Josh (text): “Yeah, just got in. Finally home…“
I hit send and linger for a moment, staring at the screen. A long sigh escapes me as the reality of being home starts to sink in. The echo of the door creaking open sounds unusually loud in the empty house. I close it gently behind me and make my way through the familiar hallway, though everything feels slightly out of place.
As I collapse onto the couch, my phone vibrates again. Jessica.
- Jessica (text): “It’s been so long! How are you feeling? You must be exhausted after all those missions.“
I smile at her text. Same old Jessica, always worried about me.
- Josh (text): “Yeah, a bit exhausted. But it feels good to be back, even if it’s weird. My place feels… so quiet.”
I don’t wait long before her name pops up on the screen again.
- Jessica (text): “I get it. It must feel strange after everything you went through over there. But you’ll get used to it quickly, you’ll see! Can we meet up soon?”
I sit up slightly, touched by her enthusiasm. I realize just how much I’ve missed her.
- Josh (text): “Yeah, I’d really like to see you too. It’s been way too long, Jess.”
There’s a pause before she responds, and I catch myself waiting for her reply more eagerly than I expected.
- Jessica (text): “How about this weekend?”
I relax a little as I read her words. The thought of seeing my sister warms my heart. But before I can reply, another message pops up, and I notice a shift in her tone.
- Jessica (text): “Oh no… I just remembered… I can’t this weekend, sorry! I’ve got something with friends… We planned it weeks ago.”
I let my head fall back against the couch, a bit disappointed. This weekend had felt like the perfect opportunity to reconnect. But oh well, it’s not a big deal.
- Josh (text): “No worries. We’ll catch up later then. Have fun this weekend.”
Her reply comes a few seconds later.
- Jessica (text): “Promise, we’ll make up for it next week. And you have to tell me everything when we meet! I miss you, big brother.”
I smile, touched by her words. I miss her too—no doubt about it. But I’m glad she’s got her own plans. It’s good that she’s living her life. And as for me… I need to get used to this new reality.
I set my phone down on the table and sink back into the couch. A stress-free weekend, just me, the quiet… and a few memories to process. But deep down, I know I won’t feel truly at ease until I’ve reconnected with everything I left behind. Time seems to slow, and my thoughts drift back to the months I’ve been trying to leave behind.
The next morning, as I savor a quiet moment with a cup of coffee, my phone vibrates again. It’s Paul. I expect a quick message, but no—he’s got a lot to say, as usual.
- Paul (text): “Hey, brother! Made it home safe? We’re counting on you this weekend! You haven’t forgotten, right? We’re all meeting up at the cabin with the guys. Everyone’s pumped to see you. We’ve got everything sorted: food, unlimited beer, and… don’t worry, we even invited some girls.”
I smile as I read the message. They haven’t changed one bit. Paul and the others are just as over-the-top excited whenever it’s time to hang out.
I take a sip of coffee before replying.
- Josh (text): “Yeah, made it home. Thanks again for the invite, man. I’m in for the weekend—can’t wait to see you guys after all this time.”
I barely put my phone down before the screen lights up again with another message from Paul.
- Paul (text): “You’re the one we’ve been missing! Seriously, we’ve been talking about this ever since you said you were coming back. Everyone’s dying to hear about what you went through over there. You’d better get ready to answer a ton of questions—you’re gonna be the star of the weekend!”
I laugh, shaking my head. They’ve always had a knack for making everything dramatic. But honestly, it warms my heart to know they’re so excited to see me. I can already picture the animated conversations and laughter.
- Josh (text): “Star of the weekend, huh? I don’t have that many crazy stories to tell. But hey, we’ve got the whole weekend to catch up. I just hope you’ve planned something chill.”
As usual, the reply comes almost instantly.
- Paul (text): “Don’t worry, it’ll be chill… well, mostly! We’ve got a surprise for you. There’s this girl—she’s amazing. Single, gorgeous, and honestly, we all know you two are going to hit it off. You’re gonna melt!”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help smiling. Paul and his endless matchmaking plans—it’s been the same for years. It’s oddly comforting to see he hasn’t changed a bit. A weekend in the countryside with them might be exactly what I need to start moving on and reconnecting with the life I left behind.
I type out one last response before setting my phone down.
- Josh (text): “We’ll see about the girl, but I’m mostly coming for you guys. Can’t wait to see everyone!”
The setting sun casts golden shadows along the dirt road leading to the countryside house. The place radiates peace, with its wooden shutters painted blue and a sprawling garden where the grass has grown a little too wild. The air smells of nature, of calm—everything I haven’t had in months.
I park near the other cars, turn off the engine, and sit for a moment, taking it all in. I can hear the laughter and voices spilling out from inside the house. A smile spreads across my face. I’ve really missed these guys.
Stepping out of the car, I barely close the door before the house’s front door bursts open. Paul appears, grinning ear to ear, and rushes toward me.
- Paul: “Josh! Damn, it’s been way too long, brother!”
He grabs me in a bear hug, clapping me hard on the back. I laugh and return the embrace, a little surprised by the wave of emotion rising in me. Yeah, I’ve really missed them.
- Josh: “Good to see you, man! Have you guys already started without me or what?”
- Paul: “Don’t worry, you’re right on time to catch up! Come on, the others can’t wait to see you.”
I follow him inside. The house has a rustic charm, with a big wooden table, a few cozy couches, and already-opened beers scattered across the table. The setting is simple but perfect for a weekend like this with the guys.
Brice, leaning against the table, raises his bottle when he sees me walk in.
- Brice: “The war hero is among us!” he jokes.
I laugh and grab a beer from the table.
- Josh: “The hero just wants to enjoy a quiet beer for now.”
I settle in with them, and the atmosphere quickly becomes relaxed. The guys are exactly the same as I left them. Nothing’s really changed, and that’s comforting. But it doesn’t take long for the questions to start flying.
- Brice: “So, tell us! What was it like over there? Any close calls? Stuff we can’t even imagine here?”
I take a sip before answering.
- Josh: “Yeah, a few close calls, but I’d rather not get into it right now. We’ve got the whole weekend for me to tell you whatever you want to know.”
Paul claps me on the back again.
- Paul: “You’re right, man. You’ve got all the time. This weekend is all about chilling and unwinding for you. You’ve earned it.”
I nod, appreciating their thoughtfulness. It’s true—I need this. I sink a little deeper into the couch, soaking in the warmth of the moment and the laughter around me.
- Brice: “And outside of work, did you get to enjoy yourself a little? Maybe… meet someone?”
I shake my head, laughing.
- Josh: “Not much time for that over there, man. It was all work, all the time.”
- Paul: “Exactly! That’s why this weekend, we’re fixing that. We found you a girl—I swear, you’re gonna love her. She’s gorgeous, single, and…”
- Brice: “…and she keeps asking if you’re as cool as we told her.”
I look at them, amused by their enthusiasm, but I’m skeptical. This isn’t exactly what I had in mind for this trip, but they seem so convinced that I can’t help but give them a small smile.
- Josh: “We’ll see. But I’m not here to stress about that, guys. I’m just happy to see you all again.”
- Paul: “Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. Just some fun. And you’ll meet her tonight.”
I smile and shrug. I’d rather enjoy the moment—these reunions—than spend too much time thinking about this mystery girl.
The questions keep coming, though lighter this time. They want to know everything I’ve been up to since I left. For some things, I answer right away. For others, I tell them we’ve got all weekend to talk about it. It’s nice not feeling rushed to spill everything at once, to let things unfold naturally.
Time flies in this lighthearted atmosphere. We laugh, talk about the past, the stupid things we did before I left on my mission, and what they’ve been up to while I was away. The mood is easy, relaxed, and I can feel the months of stress slowly melting away. It feels good to be here, to stop dwelling on everything that’s haunted me.
- Paul: “So, man, now that you’re back, what’s next? Got any plans for what you’re gonna do?”
I take a sip of beer before answering.
- Josh: “Honestly? Not much for now. I just want to get used to this new life. We’ll see what happens after that.”
- Brice: “Yeah, you’ve gotta take some time to unwind. This weekend is just the start.”
- Josh: “Exactly. I’ve got the whole weekend to relax.”
They nod, and the conversation keeps flowing. We talk about everything and nothing—the group of girls they met, the parties they threw, and the funny moments that defined their year. None of it feels particularly important, but I let myself get carried away by the lightness of their stories.
At some point, though, the discussion inevitably circles back to the girl.
- Paul: “I’m telling you, man, she’s perfect. She’s been single for a while and is kind of fed up with guys who think they’re Prince Charming. But you? You’re gonna melt her, no question.”
I roll my eyes, laughing.
- Josh: “You’re hyping her up so much, I’m bound to be disappointed.”
- Brice: “Nah, don’t worry. This time, it’s legit. And guess what? She’s excited to meet you. She’s heard tons about you.”
- Paul: “Yeah, and she’s got a killer body too! Haha!”
I listen to them, amused. They’re so convinced that they almost make me want to believe it. But deep down, I know these kinds of setups have never really worked for me. Guess we’ll see.
The sun is almost completely set when we finally hear a car pull up in front of the house. The atmosphere shifts slightly. Paul springs to his feet, a wide grin on his face.
- Paul: “Ah! They’re here.”
I get up too, a little curious despite myself. I haven’t really prepared for this much-hyped meeting, but hey, I’m here to enjoy myself, not stress out. We all step onto the porch, and I see the girls getting out of the car. There are four of them, all smiling and laughing together. My eyes instinctively scan for the one my friends have been raving about.
And then I see her.
Jessica.
My little sister.
My pulse stutters, and I feel my feet rooted to the ground. What is she doing here? Why is she with this group?
Our eyes meet, and I see the same surprise, the same confusion mirrored in hers. We stand frozen for a moment, unable to react. Around us, the laughter and chatter continue, carefree. They don’t know. They can’t possibly understand what’s racing through my mind right now.
I want to ask her what she’s doing here, but before I can say a word, Jessica walks up to me. I can see she’s nervous, and I feel my stomach twist into a knot. She leans in and kisses me on the cheek, like we’re complete strangers.
- Jessica (with a nervous smile): “Hi, I’m Jessica. Nice to meet you.”
I freeze. Every instinct screams that this is wrong, that something is off. But she’s playing along. And I have no choice but to follow her lead. I return the kiss, my heart pounding in my chest.
In the background, Paul sidles up to me, a sly grin on his face. He gives me a wink and leans in to whisper in my ear.
- Paul (whispering): “So, man, what did I tell you? She’s perfect, right?”
I try to smile, but inside, I’m spiraling. What the hell just happened?