I let it stay that way.
Because in my world, silence isn’t just a personality trait. It’s survival.
My cousin Brett, freshly back from a training rotation, proudly displayed his commendation medal. My uncle slapped him on the back hard enough to turn heads.
“Now that’s a soldier,” my uncle boomed. “Boots on the ground. Real service.”
People leaned in. Questions flew. Admiration flowed easily.