Echoes of Valor, Whispers of Love

Rain lashed against the barracks window, mimicking the turmoil brewing inside Liam. He stared out at the grey sky, a stark contrast to the fiery red sunset he'd witnessed just hours before during his first combat patrol. The image was seared into his memory, not for its beauty, but for the terror it had ignited within him. He’d been so green, fresh out of training, and thrown into the heart of the conflict. He'd seen things, done things, that no eighteen-year-old should ever have to experience. The adrenaline rush had faded, leaving behind a hollow ache and a gnawing fear he couldn’t shake. His squad leader, Sergeant Harper, a grizzled veteran with eyes that held too many untold stories, had clapped him on the shoulder that evening. “You did good, Liam,” he'd said gruffly, his voice laced with an unspoken understanding. “You’ll get used to it.” Liam wasn't sure if he ever wanted to