She looked across the concrete at me.

She did not wave, and she did not smile.

She just looked at me, her eyes hollow.

I stood straight, my uniform clean and sharp in the morning sun.

I did not look away.

She got into the car, and the door closed.

The SUV drove away, heading toward the federal courthouse in Alexandria.

I walked toward my own vehicle, my duty clear.

The family honor had been restored, but the work was not yet finished.

I had to ensure my mother was settled, and then I had to report back to my command.

The road ahead was long, but for the first time in years, the shadow of the past was gone.

I got into the car and started the engine, ready for whatever came next.