“At ease, everyone,” the general commanded, his voice cutting through the murmur of whispers and shuffling feet. The air seemed to still, the laughter and mockery dissolving into an uncomfortable silence.
“The man before you is not just any visitor,” the general began, his gaze sweeping over the assembled soldiers, some of whom now stood with flushed faces, their earlier bravado replaced by confusion and shame. “He is a hero of our nation, a man whose legacy and sacrifices have paved the way for every single one of us standing here today.”
The old man remained quiet, his eyes still fixed on the parade field, the small, folded flag nestled under his arm like a keepsake of memories too vast to contain in mere words. His presence seemed to pull time backward, weaving it with the rich tapestry of history and valor that the general was now recounting.
