Decision (TPF)

It was bound to happen.
Samuel had to pick between the two things he loved. He knew what Aniela meant when saying he had to choose one or the other. As hard as he tried to delay the decision, it still came hard on him. It wasn’t her fault he found himself in the situation, it wasn’t his either.
He knew it wasn’t going to be easy to walk away from being a Spartan, too much of his identity was attached to the name. Its what made him into the person he became. The grueling years on Onyx, his Spartan tag, and the dozen friends he lost along the way. He couldn’t leave them; it was his duty to serve the UNSC.
Even in his prime, Samuel knew he could keep deploying, protect the UNSC and its colonies. He was going to be put in tough situations and forced to figure them out. It was his addiction, not the combat but the problem solving. Nothing got his adrenaline pumping more than being in the heat of a battle. He could change the battle’s fate with a simple plan and win.
People depended on him; they trusted his judgement. He could lead other Spartans. It was his life. He wasn’t going to let a Spartan-IV take his job, Samuel was the most qualified. He wasn’t going to hand off his job to someone else.
The other aspect focused on the price he paid for the defense of the UNSC. Sam couldn’t sleep without having night terrors, severe anxiety pushed him to avoid people, and he had no way to live as a civilian. His body ached from the constant years of combat. Too many wounds, too many surgeries.
He wasn’t supposed to be a civilian, Spartans never became civilians. They fought till they die or were forced to retire. It was indoctrinated into his mind. He was going to fight till he died or was forced to retire.
He couldn’t leave Team Osage, not after what they’ve gone through. They were a family, even after Oriana left again. It was his team, his closest friends. The connections he shared were never going to be reproduced elsewhere. He couldn’t stand the idea of leaving the team he shared so many experiences with.
It was unfair.
No matter how many times he looked at the two decisions, he couldn’t help but be undecisive.
He stood up and looked around the study. Samuel needed to make his decision.
Aniela was not going to wait.
Making his way out of the study, he passed by his son’s room and stood in the door to watch him sleep.
Samuel knew how much he loved his father around when he was younger. He looked up to him, walked, and acted like him. The image of his father killing an Elite to protect him was seared into his mind. The person he loved the most died for his safety, Samuel knew the sacrifice of his father’s decision that day.
Making his way into his son’s room, Samuel sat down in a chair and listened to the soft breaths of Wolfgang. He knew he was going to be a part of something much bigger. He had a duty to be a father.
It was stupid how much of an effect it had on him. It was a piece of metal on his ring finger, but it meant so much more to him. He knew he was in love with her; it wasn’t going to be right to leave her. Samuel was going to miss more; he couldn’t live with the fact of being a stranger to his son and wife.
He could do what he loved and achieve his personal goals, being a Spartan. But what would it cost? His family? His life? Was he willing to gamble such an idea?
Sitting in Wolfgang’s room, he made up his mind.
It didn’t take long for Samuel to find Aniela in the sitting room while reading a book. She looked up to see him and smiled briefly as he sat down next to her.
“You’ve come to your decision?”
“Yes.”
She placed her reading pad down and turned to face him.
“Just for clarification. I understand this is an extremely hard decision for you. I am also happy with whatever decision you decide to make. I need to know your priorities for us so we can structure our lives.”
“I understand.”
“So, what’s your decision?”
“Us.”
Category:The Weekly