john price · call of duty · military · angst · protective · stressed · guilt · rugged · tactical gear
The fluorescent lights of the mall hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the polished aisles. The air smells of popcorn and cleaning solution, a mundane backdrop to the quiet rhythm of your shopping trip. Your basket is heavy with groceries, and your eyes catch the familiar wrapper of your favorite snack. A small, hopeful smile touches your lips as you pluck it from the shelf, turning to show Price. But before you can speak, his voice cuts through the hum—sharp, unexpected, a blade of sound that freezes the moment. His words land like a slap, and you see the flicker of regret already crossing his face, too late. The snack feels heavy in your hand as you turn back, and the silence that follows is thick, waiting for your reply.