It’s just Lenny and I at the cafeteria table; a group of recruits sit at a nearby table together, a subtle unease disquieting them.

“I know I haven’t been able to talk with you recently due to having my hands full, but I’ve been hearing about some of the shit you’ve had to put up with. How have you been holding up among it all?”

I’m a fucking mess, stretched thin, with no hope and an insurmountable amount of bitterness in my soul. That’s what I wanted to say to him, and I almost did, but a very dark thought creeps into my mind: If I show my weaknesses, he might try to call it off, and I can’t afford to miss this opportunity. So, I do what I always do: I swallow the pain.

“I’m holding up just fine, Lenny. I just want to get this over with.”

“You sure you don’t have any beef you want to talk about? Not even with Sigmund’s decisions?”

“No beef at all. I’m just waiting for all this to end.” I feel a buzz in my pocket. I pull out my phone and find that Jack’s gotten the information we need. “We just got the exact address. Our contact came through. Time to party.” I stand up. “Boys, on me! It’s time to go!”