I took a slow sip and let the warmth ease the tiredness that was still sitting heavy in my chest after the long day.

The long hours of travel, the paperwork delays and the public confrontation at Gate C27 were all behind me now.

Across the aisle, an older man in a dark suit was reading a folded newspaper.

He glanced up for a moment, noticed my formal Army Service Dress uniform, and gave me a respectful nod before going back to his paper.

There was no awkward civilian curiosity left, and no lingering doubt about who I was or why I wore this uniform.