I shook his hand, grateful for the gesture. “Thank you, Commander,” I said, “but today, I just want a cold drink and some time with my family.”

He nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. “I think we can arrange that,” he said, stepping aside to let me pass.

As I moved through the crowd, I felt the eyes on me, not with the weight of judgement, but with a newfound respect. My father walked beside me, his arm draped over my shoulders, a proud smile on his face.

“Let’s get you that drink,” he said, leading me towards the cooler where the ice was slowly melting. “And maybe after, you can tell me some of those stories.”