Heal or Kill the Mafia Boss

How can a small piece of metal feel so heavy? I look again at the five-pointed star hanging from my neck. "Brave." I should be overflowing with happiness, embracing my comrades and thinking about my promotion to lieutenant. However, all I feel is a pressure in my chest that makes breathing hard.

"This isn’t right. There’s no guilt, no remorse. Why?"

"Sgt. Jenkins."

My thoughts are interrupted. I take a deep breath before standing at attention and walking toward the gray-haired man with small wrinkles at the corners of his eyes—the man I once called Dad. Today, he is nothing more than my superior, General Jenkins. I step into his office and wait for him to close the door.

"You may sit, Sergeant."

I do so immediately, remaining silent as the general walks around his desk and settles in front of me.

"I have to admit, you’ve surprised me. I didn’t expect you to rise through the ranks so quickly, let alone have my daughter decorated by the nation's President with the Medal of Honor. Are you aware of how important this is?"

"Yes, sir," I respond mechanically.

"I know they’re already working on your promotion to lieutenant, and as an officer, you won’t have to return to the front if you don’t want to. With what you’ve done, you’ve already fulfilled your duty on the battlefield, Sergeant."

My father—the general—keeps talking while I get lost in my thoughts. I won’t have to go back to that hell, dodging bullets and watching my friends and comrades die. My job is to save lives—that’s what a combat medic does. But I…

I shake my head to erase the image of all those corpses lying at my feet.

"There’s nothing."

"Is something wrong, Sergeant?" my father inquired.

I lower my gaze to my hands—hands that seem clean but are stained with blood.

"You won’t kill again," echoes in my mind.

I take a deep breath and slowly raise my head.

"I’m done," I say with certainty.

"What did you say?" The general narrows his eyes at me, frowning.

"I’m done here, General. I want to leave the Army."

"You must be joking," he mutters. "Mia, have you lost your mind?! You’re about to be promoted. Your military career is only truly beginning."

I stand up without waiting for his permission and, after removing the medal, toss it onto his desk.

"You can keep it if you like it so much, Dad. You said it yourself—I’ve fulfilled my duty to this nation. Now, I’ll decide how to live the rest of my days."

I turn around and head for the door, but before I can open it, I hear his voice behind me.

"If you walk out that door now, I will no longer recognize you as my daughter. It will be as if you had died in that ambush."

I turn slightly and let one corner of my mouth lift just a couple of centimeters.

"There’s nothing."

"I stopped being your daughter