Location: Kowalski's Residence, Virek
Date and Time: July 19, 2558 – 0700 Hours
The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the bedroom. The quiet stillness of the early hour wrapped around us, the peaceful hum of life going on as usual. But today was anything but usual. Today, everything was about to change.
I lay still, staring up at the ceiling, feeling the weight of the decision settle in now that the sun was up. Last night, Emily and I had talked—really talked—and for the first time, I felt like I had a sense of clarity about what needed to happen. But that didn't make it any easier.
Beside me, Emily stirred, her head resting against my shoulder, her arm draped across my chest. The softness of her breath against my skin was soothing, grounding me in this moment before everything shifted. I'd made my choice, but that didn't mean the fear of leaving didn't gnaw at me.
"You're up early," Emily murmured, her voice thick with sleep. She didn't open her eyes, just nestled closer to me, her warmth a comfort in the coolness of the morning.
"Couldn't sleep much," I admitted, my fingers gently tracing circles on her arm. "Got a lot on my mind."
She smiled softly, still not opening her eyes. "It's a big day. You're allowed to be nervous."
I chuckled quietly, though there was a heaviness in my chest. "Nervous doesn't even begin to cover it."
She shifted then, lifting her head to look at me. Her eyes were warm, filled with the same quiet understanding she'd shown me last night. "You're going to be fine, Tom. I believe in you. And when you come back… you'll be a Spartan. Stronger. Better."
I nodded, trying to let her words soothe the tension in my muscles. But it wasn't just the training or the augmentation that weighed on me—it was the thought of leaving them. Of being gone for so long, missing the little moments that had come to define this life we'd built.
"I just don't want to miss anything," I said softly, my voice barely more than a whisper.
Emily reached out, cupping my cheek in her hand. "You won't. You're doing this for us, for the future. We'll be here when you get back, and nothing will have changed."
Her words were meant to comfort, but we both knew that wasn't entirely true. Everything would change. But I didn't need to say it. The promise in her eyes, the steady conviction in her voice, was enough to keep the doubts at bay.
"I'll be back before you know it," I said, though the words felt heavy on my tongue. "And when I am… we'll pick up right where we left off."
She smiled, leaning down to kiss me softly, her lips lingering against mine for just a moment longer than usual. "Exactly."
We stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's warmth, savoring the quiet intimacy of the morning. But eventually, the time came. I had to leave.
By the time I stepped outside, the early morning mist was beginning to lift, the day stretching out before me in a way that felt both daunting and exhilarating. Jun was waiting for me near the transport that would take me to the Avery J. Johnson Academy of Military Science. The time for second thoughts was long gone.
"Ready?" Jun asked, his tone calm and measured. He didn't need to ask. He knew the weight of the decision already rested heavily on my shoulders.
I nodded, glancing back at the house where Emily stood in the doorway, holding Eli on her hip with Lina peeking out from behind her legs. The sight tugged at my heart, but I knew this was the right choice. For them. For all of us.
"I'm ready," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
Jun gave me a nod, understanding in his eyes. "It's a long road ahead. But you've got what it takes."
I took a deep breath, letting the gravity of the moment sink in. There was no turning back now. This was my path—becoming a Spartan, something more than I ever thought I could be. And though the journey would be difficult, I knew I wasn't walking it alone. Emily would be with me, even from afar. And that gave me the strength I needed to step forward.
As I boarded the transport, I glanced out the window, watching as the house—and the life I'd built with my family—began to fade into the distance. The pit in my stomach grew tighter, but beneath it was a sense of resolve. I was doing this for them. For a future where I could protect them, where I could be stronger, better.