Chapter 7 - THE COINCaptain Callahan met me near a quiet seating area after completing his post-flight duties.
He held my challenge coin carefully.
I had handed it to him because he asked to inspect the reverse.
One side showed the rescue emblem.
The other:
THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE
Below it, scratched by hand years earlier:
JV-31
Callahan touched the letters.
“Who gave you this?”
“Squadron commander after a recovery mission.”
“Do you remember why it was marked?”
“Joint recovery number.”
His eyes lifted.
“October 2010?”
My chest tightened.
Maybe.
Memory is strange after combat.
Some dates vanish.
Others live in your teeth.
“Eastern Afghanistan?”
“Yes.”
Callahan sat down.
Maya was beside me with headphones watching a cartoon.
He said:
“I was there.”
I looked at him.
He continued:
“I need to tell you something about that mission.”
Then stopped when Maya removed one headphone.
“Daddy, are we getting Mommy’s box?”
I looked toward baggage claim.
“Soon.”
Callahan understood.
May you like
“This can wait.”
For the first time, I wanted it not to.
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