Emily called Daniel in a panic.
Marcus had been in the backyard.
Then he was gone.
His coat was missing.
His bicycle remained.
Police began searching.
Daniel arrived within twelve minutes.
His training took over.
Routes.
Distances.
Likely destinations.
Marcus hated busy roads.
He liked the creek.
He knew the school route.
Then Daniel remembered something Marcus had said weeks earlier.
My dad was a soldier too.
Daniel drove to the veterans memorial near the old courthouse.
Marcus sat behind the granite wall.
His knees were pulled to his chest.
Snow covered the shoulders of his coat.
Daniel stopped several feet away.
"Marcus."
The boy looked up.
His face was wet with tears.
Daniel crouched.
"Everyone is looking for you."
Marcus looked away.
"I know."
"Why did you leave?"
No answer.
Daniel moved closer.
"Talk to me."
Marcus stared at the names carved into the monument.
"I heard Mom."
Daniel's stomach tightened.
"Heard what?"
"Talking to Grandma."
Daniel already knew.
"About Tennessee?"
Marcus nodded.
"You’re leaving."
Daniel sat beside him.
"I haven't decided."
"You will."
"Why?"
"Because soldiers leave."
Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
"Marcus."
"My dad left."
"Your dad died."
"My mom left."
"She died too."
Marcus started crying harder.
"Everybody leaves."
Daniel's heart broke.
He placed one hand on the boy's shoulder.
Marcus did not pull away.
"I don't want you to leave."
Daniel stared at him.
There was no biological connection between them.
Different skin.
Different blood.
Different history.
And yet the fear in that child's eyes reached somewhere Daniel had kept locked for years.
Daniel remembered the miscarriage.
The fertility clinics.
The empty bedroom.
The conversations he and Emily stopped having because hope hurt too much.
He remembered Elijah's letter.
If I ever have kids, I hope they know men like you.
Daniel took a slow breath.
"I can't promise I'll never have to go anywhere."