A father's resolve

Panel 1 – (Morning, kitchen shot) David pours coffee, looking more tired than usual. Sarah enters, watching him carefully.

Panel 2 – (Emily runs in, excited) "Daddy! Can we go to the park today? You promised!"

Panel 3 – (David hesitates, then forces a smile) "Yeah, kiddo. Let's go."

Panel 4 – (Sarah looks surprised, but says nothing.)

Panel 5 – (Narration: "One battle at a time.")

PAGE 22: Public Anxiety (4 Panels)

Panel 1 – (Park scene, bright atmosphere, kids playing.)

Panel 2 – (David sits on a bench while Emily plays, scanning the crowd, hyper-aware of everything.)

Panel 3 – (His vision distorts—people's movements feel like enemy soldiers lurking.)

Panel 4 – (Sweat drips down his temple. He clenches his fists.) (Narration: "Still can't turn it off.")

PAGE 23: Paranoia Returns (5 Panels)

Panel 1 – (Sarah talking to a man in the distance, laughing.)

Panel 2 – (David stiffens, his mind racing.)

Panel 3 – (Flashback panel: Interrogation room, a traitor among them, his squad betrayed.) (Narration: "You should've seen it coming.")

Panel 4 – (Back to reality: Sarah places a hand on the man's shoulder, still smiling.)

Panel 5 – (David's grip tightens on the bench.) (Narration: "Don't do this.")

PAGE 24: The Breaking Point (4 Panels)

Panel 1 – (David's breathing becomes shallow.)

Panel 2 – (Emily tugs his sleeve, breaking him from his trance.) "Daddy? You okay?"

Panel 3 – (David looks at her, his heart aching. Forces a smile.) "Yeah, sweetheart. Let's go home."

Panel 4 – (Narration: "She's the only thing keeping me from drowning.")

PAGE 25: The Fight (5 Panels)

Panel 1 – (Night, David drinking alone.)

Panel 2 – (Sarah enters, arms crossed.) "You were staring at me again today."

Panel 3 – (David scowls.) "You think I don't notice?"

Panel 4 – (Sarah, hurt.) "I've been here, waiting for you to come back to me. But you never did."

Panel 5 – (David slams his glass down, trembling.) "I died over there."

PAGE 26: Flashback to War (4 Panels)

Panel 1 – (Battlefield, night raid, intense gunfire.)

Panel 2 – (David leading his squad, shouting orders.) "MOVE! GET TO COVER!"

Panel 3 – (Explosion, his best friend Lucas is thrown back, wounded.)

Panel 4 – (David running to him, enemy fire all around.) (Lucas: "Don't stop. Keep going.")

PAGE 27: Survivor's Guilt (5 Panels)

Panel 1 – (David dragging Lucas through gunfire.)

Panel 2 – (Close-up: Lucas coughing blood.) (Lucas: "You were always the strong one.")

Panel 3 – (Lucas' hand goes limp. He's gone.)

Panel 4 – (David screaming, holding his friend.)

Panel 5 – (Narration: "But I couldn't save him.")

PAGE 28: Confronting the Past (4 Panels)

Panel 1 – (Back to present: David is sitting in the dark, gripping his head.)

Panel 2 – (Sarah sits beside him.) "You don't have to fight this alone."

Panel 3 – (David clenches his jaw, eyes filled with conflict.)

Panel 4 – (Narration: "But I don't know how to stop.")

PAGE 29: A Father's Fear (5 Panels)

Panel 1 – (David watching Emily sleep, protective.)

Panel 2 – (Flashback of a child crying in a warzone, scared.)

Panel 3 – (David blinks, shaking his head.) (Narration: "She deserves a better father.")

Panel 4 – (Sarah at the door, watching him, sad.)

Panel 5 – (Narration: "But I don't know how to be that man.")

PAGE 30: Seeking Help (4 Panels)

Panel 1 – (David stands outside a veterans' support group building.)

Panel 2 – (He hesitates, fists clenched.)

Panel 3 – (He finally steps inside.)

Panel 4 – (Narration: "Maybe this is the first step.")