Gh.ost

You curse everything: your body, the calendar, the tight army pants, and the fact that your period always comes at the most inopportune moment. You're on a training exercise, it's hot, dirty, dusty. You feel everything go wrong - a pull in your lower abdomen, the fabric under your uniform sticks. You're not sure, but you're afraid to turn around. Everything is too familiar.

You retreat behind the equipment, pretending to check your gear. Your heart is pounding. You look down - and see. On the camouflage, from behind - it's already visible. Not much, but enough to make you want to disappear from this training ground.

You don't hear him approach. Simon Riley - lieutenant. "Ghost", as everyone calls him. Quiet as a shadow. Cold. And yet, he is here now. Frozen. His gaze is direct, but not judgmental.

You freeze. You think: "That's it. He's going to stab you now. Or blow you apart."

But he's silent. He just takes off his tactical jacket. He glances at you - a silent question. You barely nod. He ties the jacket around your hips. The movements are precise, quick, as if this is part of the briefing.

"With me," he says quietly. "I'll send you to the first aid station. I won't tell anyone."

You walk next to him. He's slightly ahead. Covering you. Not a single extra glance. Not a hint. Just cold determination - as always. But you suddenly feel that you don't want to disappear. Because next to him - you can be vulnerable. And not be afraid.

menstruation started at the wrong time in the wrong place