Facing the past

Facing the Past (4 Panels)

Panel 1 – (David sits in a veterans' support group, tense.) Other veterans are talking, but he remains silent.

Panel 2 – (Close-up on his hands, clenched into fists.) (Narration: "What am I supposed to say?")

Panel 3 – (The group leader, an older vet, looks at him.) "You wanna talk, Kane?"

Panel 4 – (David hesitates, then finally mutters.) "I lost good men. And I should've been one of them."

PAGE 32: Breaking Down Walls (5 Panels)

Panel 1 – (Another veteran speaks up, sharing his experience.) "We all lost people, man. But you're still here. You gotta make it mean something."

Panel 2 – (David looks up, conflicted.)

Panel 3 – (Flashback: His best friend Lucas dying in his arms.)

Panel 4 – (David grips his head, overwhelmed.) (Narration: "I don't know how.")

Panel 5 – (The group leader places a hand on his shoulder.) "That's why you start small."

PAGE 33: A Family's Patience (4 Panels)

Panel 1 – (David comes home, exhausted. Sarah watches from the kitchen.)

Panel 2 – (Emily rushes up, hugging him.) "I missed you today, Daddy!"

Panel 3 – (David hesitates, then kneels and hugs her back, tightly.)

Panel 4 – (Sarah softens, watching them.) (Narration: "Maybe I don't have to do this alone.")

PAGE 34: The Paranoia Remains (5 Panels)

Panel 1 – (David watches Sarah from the window as she talks on the phone, laughing.)

Panel 2 – (Flashback: His squad talking about betrayal in war.) (Soldier: "You never really know who you can trust.")

Panel 3 – (David's grip tightens on the window frame.)

Panel 4 – (His thoughts are spiraling. The war never really left him.)

Panel 5 – (Narration: "What if she did move on without me?")

PAGE 35: Seeking Truth (4 Panels)

Panel 1 – (David checks Sarah's phone when she's in the shower, guilt in his face.)

Panel 2 – (A message pops up from a man named Mark.) (Text: "Can't wait to see you tomorrow.")

Panel 3 – (David's heart pounds. His worst fears confirmed.)

Panel 4 – (Narration: "I knew it. I knew it.")

PAGE 36: The Confrontation (5 Panels)

Panel 1 – (Sarah walks in, towel over her shoulders, sees David holding her phone.)

Panel 2 – (Sarah's eyes widen.) "David, what are you doing?"

Panel 3 – (David glares, gripping the phone tightly.) "Who the hell is Mark?"

Panel 4 – (Sarah steps closer, hands up.) "David… please, listen to me."

Panel 5 – (David's hands tremble with rage.) (Narration: "Everything is about to break.")

PAGE 37: The Truth Revealed (4 Panels)

Panel 1 – (Sarah's voice shakes.) "Mark is my brother. He's been helping me while you—"

Panel 2 – (David's rage falters, his breath hitching.)

Panel 3 – (Sarah steps forward, tears forming.) "You've been so lost in your pain that you don't see the people still here for you."

Panel 4 – (David stares at her, realization sinking in.)

PAGE 38: Shattered Reality (5 Panels)

Panel 1 – (David sinks into a chair, gripping his head, ashamed.)

Panel 2 – (Sarah sits beside him, speaking softly.) "I never stopped loving you, David. But I can't keep fighting your war alone."

Panel 3 – (David looks at her, eyes filled with regret.)

Panel 4 – (Narration: "I almost destroyed everything.")

Panel 5 – (Emily peeks from the doorway, confused, worried.)

PAGE 39: A Second Chance (4 Panels)

Panel 1 – (David kneels, arms open to Emily.)

Panel 2 – (Emily hesitates, then runs into his arms.)

Panel 3 – (Sarah wipes her eyes, nodding.)

Panel 4 – (Narration: "Maybe there's still time to fix this.")

PAGE 40: Moving Forward (4 Panels)

Panel 1 – (Morning, David watching the sunrise.)

Panel 2 – (He picks up his phone and dials a number.)

Panel 3 – (It's the veterans' support group. He takes a deep breath.) "Hey… I think I'm ready to talk."

Panel 4 – (Narration: "The war isn't over. But I don't have to fight it alone.")