Chapter 8 - NIGHT BEACON
The invitation arrived six months later.
A Navy ceremony.
A group of rescue veterans was being recognized.
Matthew had nominated me.
I almost declined.
Then I saw the guest list.
Six names.
The six men from Harbor Lantern.
They were coming.
So I went.
The ceremony was held near the coast.
When I arrived, Matthew was waiting.
He looked older.
But his smile was exactly the same.
“You ready, Major?”
“No.”
“Good.”
He laughed.
“Neither am I.”
The ceremony began.
One by one, the six men spoke.
Then Matthew stepped forward.
He looked at the audience.
“Eleven years ago, I thought I was going to die.”
The room became silent.
“I didn't know the officer who reached us.”
He looked at me.
“I didn't know her name.”
Then he smiled.
“But I remember her voice.”
He repeated the promise I had made that night.
“I'm getting you out.”
My eyes filled.
Matthew continued.
“She kept that promise.”
Everyone stood.
I heard applause.
But I wasn't thinking about applause.
I was thinking about my mother.
My sister.
My father.
The girl I had been.
The woman I had become.
After the ceremony, one of the rescued sailors approached me.
He had gray hair now.
He held out a photograph.
“My daughter wanted you to have this.”
I took it.
It showed him with his family.
Three generations.
“Why?”
“Because you gave me the chance to meet them.”
I couldn't answer.
He hugged me.
I hugged him back.
That night, I stood alone near the water.
Ethan joined me.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
I smiled.
“For the first time.”
He looked at the horizon.
“Do you ever regret it?”
“Regret what?”
“Going into rescue.”
I thought for a moment.
“No.”
“Even the scar?”
I looked at my arm.
“No.”
I touched it.
“It reminds me I survived.”
He smiled.
“And Night Beacon?”
I laughed softly.
“That name still feels strange.”
“Why?”
“Because I wasn't a beacon.”
“What were you?”
I looked toward the lights across the water.
“Someone who refused to leave.”
May you like
Ethan nodded.
“That sounds like a beacon to me.”
