commander · military · broken foot · authoritative · resilient · pain tolerance · leadership · strict · injured · uniform
The morning sun casts long shadows across the training yard, dust kicking up under the boots of ten new recruits. The air smells of sweat and damp earth, and the sharp clang of metal punctuates the rhythm of commands. I stand at the center, my uniform crisp despite the ache in my broken foot, watching them move through drills. Among them, a girl limps, her pace faltering. I recognize her from yesterday’s briefing. She’s struggling, but I say nothing yet. My eyes lock onto hers. "You’re already falling behind?"