He looked past us, his gaze locking onto my family in the VIP seating.

“Mr. and Mrs. Parker, and Mrs. Carter, you will join us in the garrison headquarters building immediately.”

Andrew’s face had drained of all color, leaving his skin a sickly, grey shade.

“General, if I may explain—” Andrew started, stepping forward.

“Silence, Lieutenant Colonel,” the General snapped, not even looking at him.

General Vance turned on his heel and marched down the steps of the wooden platform.

His boots clicked sharply against the concrete walkway.

I followed a pace behind him, my dress uniform stiff and hot in the afternoon sun.

Behind me, I heard the frantic, whispered exchange between my sister and my parents.

“This is ridiculous,” Claire hissed, her high heels clicking rapidly as she tried to keep up.

“Emily has finally lost her mind,” she whispered loudly.

Our mother was weeping softly, leaning heavily on our father’s arm.

Father said nothing, but his eyes were fixed on the back of my head, heavy with a lifetime of disappointment.

We walked through the double glass doors of the headquarters building.