Maya slipped her hand into his with practiced elegance, allowing him to guide her down the last remaining step before they walked together toward the waiting families.
Richard Winters watched his daughter approach in thoughtful silence. To everyone else, Maya appeared exactly as she always had—beautiful, graceful, and poised beyond her years. But a father noticed things others overlooked. He saw the faint fatigue lingering behind her smile, the unusual paleness of her complexion, and the subtle hesitation hidden beneath her confident stride. "You'll remember to write to us," he said, his normally commanding voice carrying a gentleness reserved only for his family.
Maya smiled warmly. "I will, Father."
"And don't skip your meals," Luna Winters added almost immediately as she stepped forward to straighten the collar of Maya's coat with familiar motherly care. "You always become so busy that you forget to eat."
A quiet laugh escaped Maya. "I know."
