Taken

‘I had some doubts, sure,’ Kieran said. ‘But… You’ve heard the saying, right? If you sign up for military service, you might regret it for a while; but if you never sign up, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.’ He sighed. I listened quietly, snuggling in closer with my head on his chest, finding comfort in his strong arms. ‘I wanted to keep serving for a few more years,’ he continued, his voice tinged with longing. ‘But when I left the base without asking for permission to look for Kenneth, it got me kicked out real quick.’ ‘That’s all in the past now,’ I reassured him, tracing circles on his chest with my finger. ‘Yeah, it’s all behind us,’ he agreed, determination shining in his eyes. ‘Do you think it’s messed up how Rainey got off easy for all the harm she caused and met such a sudden end?’ I asked, my voice a mix of curiosity and concern. ‘She didn’t stand trial.’ ‘Fairness? Nah, it’s not a thing in these situations,’ he replied, a dark cloud in his eyes. ‘She met her fate