Clubbing?

They don't know. And if I have my way, they will never know. All they will ever see is the commander. The one who sacrifices his time and life for the cause. I see them shake their heads, in either wonder or in pity; and sometimes, I can't tell which it is. Not that it really matters. All that matters is the result. They all assume that there is no one for me, that there has never been anyone, but they're wrong. They believe that because it is what I want them to believe. They will only see what I want them to see.

"Hey Boss," Steve said, poking his head into the room, "do you want to some to the club with us?"

David looked up from some scattered paperwork on the desk and ofered an apologetic smile, "sorry, I have to figure out this SNAFU before Hayes has my backside. Maybe next time," he said.

Steve shook his head and withdrew from the room.

David shuffled the papers to the side and pulled out a glossy photo with a smiling girl. She was laughing at the person behind the camera, her eyes bright and alive.

David gently ran his fingers across the picture before tucking it away in his pocket.

They would never know why he never went with them.