Frank attempted to push the memories of Mogadishu aside, taking a look at the empty office across the street.
Eight years.
He had spent eight years of his life serving his country. Traveling to places he never imagined visiting, witnessing things he never thought possible, and doing things most people would never understand. He had been good at it. Very good. The commendations and medals packed away in a box at home were proof of that. But by the end of his eighth year, Frank knew it was time to move on.
He'd lost too much.
Ben's face drifted into his thoughts.
Frank looked away from the scope. No reason to go down that road again. Leaving the military had been easier than he'd expected. At least the actual process of leaving. The paperwork, final briefings, and goodbyes had passed without much emotion. He'd shaken hands with men he'd trusted with his life, promised to keep in touch, and walked away.
What came afterward was harder.
For the first time in his adult life, no one told him where he needed to be or what was expected of him. There were no assignments to prepare for, no missions to complete, and no one depending on him to watch their backs. He'd thought the freedom would be refreshing. Instead, the days seemed to stretch endlessly. He tried a few jobs. Security work, consulting, even a brief stint helping train personnel for a private company. Nothing held his interest for long. The pay was reasonable, but the work felt empty. It wasn't that he couldn't do the jobs. He simply couldn't imagine spending the rest of his life doing them.
Three months after his discharge, he met Sarah.
She was a transition counselor who worked with veterans struggling to adjust to civilian life. Frank hadn't been particularly interested in counseling, but someone had suggested he speak with her about employment opportunities. He remembered walking into her office expecting another conversation about transferable skills and career development.
Instead, he found a woman who seemed genuinely interested in who he was rather than what he'd done.