I met his eyes steadily. “No, Derek. I prayed you wouldn’t. But I prepared in case you did. That’s what soldiers do. We hope for peace. But we prepare for wa:r.”

That night, I tucked Maddox and Brinn into beds in our new, smaller home – ours alone. Maddox had joined JROTC, inspired by my service. Brinn wrote an essay titled ‘My Mom, My Hero.’

As I turned out her light, she asked softly, “Mom, were you scared? When Dad sent that text?”

I kissed her forehead. “No, baby. Because I knew something he didn’t. Soldiers don’t just fight battles overseas. Sometimes the hardest battles are the ones we fight at home. And I’ve been trained to win.”