PART 24

Then he looked at Colonel Harlan.
“Is that understood?”
Harlan swallowed.
“Yes, sir.”
But his voice had no command left in it.
The mess hall stayed frozen until the General left.
Then Nathan Price walked toward Lieutenant Shaw.
He stopped in front of her table.
And quietly said, “You were right.”
Emily’s eyes filled.
“So were you,” she whispered.
That was how fear ended there.
May you like
Not with applause.
With two people realizing they had not imagined the abuse.