Melissa’s POV

The ceiling above me blurred as I blinked through tears I refused to let fall. Kennedy’s bed was still empty, his blanket untouched. I had grown used to the sound of him talking to himself before lights out, the soft scrape of his boots as he kicked them off, the occasional sarcastic remark tossed my way from the bunk below.

Now, the silence made my heart ache.

His words replayed over and over-You already did.

I turned on my side, biting back a sob that rose uninvited. I had faced drills that left me bleeding, fought opponents twice my size, taken orders that nearly broke me, but nothing...