The lungs that had once needed an oxygen tank now ran six miles every morning before dawn without a single ache.

Sarah leaned against the painted cinderblock wall.

“I get my first deployment orders on Friday,” Sarah said.

“I’m terrified they’ll stick me with a desk assignment for my first MOS.

I don’t want to be stuck updating SOP manuals at a training base.”

“You scored in the top ten percent on the combat tactics exam,” I said.

“You’re not going to a desk.”

“You finished first in absolutely everything,” Sarah said.