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  The sound of the clock echoed throughout the room as Adam Stafford sat at his desk. It was 5:45 pm, and although he was supposed to have left an hour earlier, he didn't mind staying longer. After all, it meant that the roads around the Pentagon were clear for his eventual drive home.

  Leaning back in his chair, Adam glanced at the framed photo on his desk. Though somewhat faded with age, he could still make out the smiling faces of his wife and children—the day he’d been hired. He traced a finger over the glass. Fourteen years ago. Back then, his kids had been in grade school. Now, they were off to college, starting their own lives.

  He exhaled and rubbed his temples, his gaze lingering on the photo. Time had slipped away in what felt like an instant. He thought back to the day he had joined the military—just shy of his nineteenth birthday. His parents had been furious when they found his enlistment papers. He could still hear his father’s voice, sharp and cutting: "Do you even know what you're signing up for?" His mother had pleaded, trying to talk him out of it. Adam, however, had already made his decision.

  His younger brother, Daniel, had followed not long after—but instead of joining the Army, he had chosen the Navy. That had surprised Adam at the time. Daniel had always seemed like the kind of guy who would have joined the army and had even been hanging out with the JROTC kids whenever they would do their classes. Despite this, he served with distinction, advancing through the ranks and establishing his own identity.

  Though it took them some time, their parents had come around eventually. His mother had sent letters while he was deployed in Afghanistan, always careful not to say too much about how worried she was. His father had been more stubborn, their phone calls strained and brief. But when Adam had been promoted to Sergeant First Class, something had changed. His father had never been one for sentimental words, but Adam could hear it in his voice—pride, even if it was unspoken.

  Now, after decades of service in various capacities, Adam found himself in a precarious situation once more. Retirement loomed just a few months away, and for the first time in years, he wasn’t sure what came next. Bonnie had been gently nudging him toward travel—just the two of them, finally taking time for themselves.

  He had been warming up to the idea. Maybe we could start with the Bahamas…

  A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. He sat up and straightened his tie. The door creaked open.

  "Mr. Stafford?" came the familiar voice of Ms. Turner, the floor secretary. She was a short woman, ever efficient, professional, and never one for small talk.

  Adam frowned. At this hour, unexpected visitors were rare. "Did they say what it was about?"

  Ms. Turner shook her head. "No, sir. Just that it’s important."

  That was enough to pique his curiosity. He gestured toward the door. "Alright. Send them in."

  A few moments later, the door opened again, and in walked a man Adam hadn’t seen in far too long—his younger brother, Daniel.

  The years had changed him, but not by much. He was still tall, and still carried himself with that effortless confidence. There were a few more lines around his eyes, a touch of gray at his temples, but otherwise, he looked just like Adam remembered. Dressed in a navy uniform, he looked like he had just come from work, though the unmistakable grin on his face told Adam this wasn’t a business visit.

  For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, almost at the same time, they stepped forward and embraced.

  "Damn, look at you," Adam said as they pulled apart, shaking his head. "What the hell are you doing here? Last I heard, you were sailing around Korea.”

  Daniel chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "I was, but I got some extended leave. I probably should’ve called first, but I couldn’t wait after finding out." His grin widened. "Man, I had to tell you in person—Emily’s pregnant. I’m gonna be a dad."

  For a second, Adam just stared at him, processing the words. Then, his serious expression broke into a wide smile.

  "Are you serious?"

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Daniel nodded. "Dead serious."

  Adam let out a short laugh and clapped his brother on the back. "Damn, Danny! That’s incredible! Congratulations!"

  Daniel beamed. "Thanks, man. I still can’t believe it. We’ve been trying for a while, and now… it’s finally happening."

  Adam shook his head, still grinning. "Mom and Dad are gonna lose their minds when they hear."

  "Oh, they already know," Daniel said with a chuckle. "Emily called them as soon as we got the confirmation. Mom cried. Dad did that thing where he pretends to be all stoic but keeps clearing his throat."

  "Why am I not surprised? He had the same reaction when Bonnie found out, though from what Mom told me, he was beaming the whole time over the phone."

  They sat down, catching up. They reminisced about their childhood—how Daniel had always been the one getting into trouble, while Adam played the responsible older brother.

  "You remember that time we tried sneaking out, and Dad caught us before we even got past the driveway?" Daniel laughed. "He made us rake leaves for a week."

  Adam smirked. "Not our best plan."

  After a while, Daniel leaned back in his chair. "So, what’s next for you?"

  Adam hesitated. "Still figuring that out."

  "You’ll get there," Daniel said. "Hell, maybe being an uncle will be your new job."

  Adam laughed. "I could get used to that."

  Daniel checked his watch. It was currently 6:09. "I should let you go. Bonnie’s probably wondering where you are."

  Adam sighed, glancing at his desk. "Yeah, I guess I should call it a night."

  They stood up. Another embrace.

  "Let’s not wait another year to see each other, alright?" Daniel said.

  "Deal," Adam replied.

  Sometime later, they stepped outside, the crisp night air greeting them as they exited the building. The streets were quieter now, save for the occasional passing car and the distant hum of city life. The faint glow of streetlights illuminated the sidewalk, casting long shadows across the pavement. Adam took a deep breath, letting the cool air clear his mind. It had been a good night—better than he had expected. Seeing Daniel again had brought back memories he hadn't realized he missed.

  Daniel walked toward the parking lot, giving Adam a casual wave. "Don’t be a stranger, alright?" he called over his shoulder.

  Adam smirked and nodded. "Yeah, yeah. Drive safe. I’ll see you tomorrow for the party."

  He watched as Daniel disappeared between the rows of parked cars, his figure vanishing into the dimly lit lot. With a satisfied sigh, Adam turned toward the crosswalk. A small group of people had gathered at the curb, waiting for the pedestrian signal to change. Traffic was steady, but not overwhelming—just a few late commuters heading home, their headlights sweeping across the pavement.

  Adam stepped up to the group of pedestrians waiting at the curb, slipping his hands into his coat pockets as he settled into place. A handful of them looked like government employees finishing a late shift—dressed in suits, carrying briefcases or messenger bags. A young woman in workout gear scrolled through her phone, earbuds in, seemingly unaware of the world around her. An older man in a trench coat checked his watch, shifting impatiently on his feet. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, absently glancing at the traffic light above. It was just another quiet evening in the city, people tired from work, eager to get home.

  As he adjusted his stance, his shoulder brushed against someone standing beside him. The contact was slight, but enough to make him turn his head. The man he had bumped into was dressed in a black hoodie, the hood pulled low enough to obscure most of his face. He was taller than Adam, lean but rigid in posture as if he were standing at attention. His hands were stuffed deep into his pockets, his breathing slow and measured.

  "Sorry about that," Adam said, offering a small nod before shifting slightly to give the guy some space.

  The man didn’t respond. Instead, he simply turned his head, ever so slightly, and stared at Adam. Even though it was for a brief moment before looking away, he had felt…something…in the man’s gaze, though he didn't know what. The silence stretched for a beat too long, and Adam felt an uncomfortable prickle creep down his spine. He wasn’t sure if it was the man’s lack of response or the sheer intensity of his stare, but something about him felt… off.

  Adam cleared his throat and took a deliberate step away, putting some distance between them. He positioned himself on the opposite side of the group, turning his back to the man. Maybe he was overthinking it. It had been years since he had needed to rely on his gut instincts for survival, but old habits never truly died. Still, standing there in the cool night air, he reminded himself that not every stranger was a threat.

  Shaking off the strange encounter, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. Bonnie had texted him earlier:

  Bonnie: Dinner’s almost ready. Are you on your way?

  Adam smiled slightly and started typing.

  Adam: Yeah, just left the office. Be home soon. Roads should be clear.

  He hit send and glanced up. The pedestrian signal still showed red, and traffic continued to roll past in a steady stream of headlights. He checked his phone again. No response from Bonnie yet, but it was getting late, and she was probably setting the table or finishing up in the kitchen. He figured he’d send another message.

  Adam: Kids call today?

  A few seconds passed. Then Bonnie’s reply popped up.

  Bonnie: Talked to Emma for a bit, but she had a study group. Haven’t heard from Alex. Probably forgot.

  Adam smirked to himself. Typical. His son was always losing track of time, even when it came to something as simple as checking in.

  Adam: Figures. I’ll remind him when I get home.

  The signal was still red. He glanced around, his eyes drifting back to where the man in the black hoodie had been standing, but the spot was now empty. Adam frowned. He hadn’t seen him leave. Maybe the guy had walked away when he wasn't looking.

  A vibration in his hand pulled his attention back to his phone. Another text from Bonnie.

  Bonnie: Want me to keep dinner warm, or will you be home soon?

  Adam smiled faintly. After all these years, she still made sure he had a hot meal waiting for him. He began typing a response.

  Adam: Yeah, keep it warm. Be home soon. Love yo—

  Before he could finish, something slammed into his back. His breath hitched as he staggered forward, his body tilting dangerously off balance. The phone slipped from his grip, spinning toward the pavement as his foot hit the edge of the curb. The sudden force sent him stumbling into the street, right into the path of oncoming traffic.

  Time seemed to slow as headlights blazed in his vision and a deafening horn split the air, and in the split second before impact, his gaze flicked back toward the sidewalk.

  Standing there, just beyond the shocked and screaming faces of the other pedestrians, was the man in the black hoodie. He was still, hands already moving towards his pockets as his lips curled into a slow, cruel smile.

  Words had begun to form on Adams's lips, though he would never utter them as everything went black.