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墨書 Inktalez
The crowd's emotions had been ignited, shouts, whistles, and angry roars intertwining like an invisible storm sweeping down the street. People raised their hands, chanting his name—“Carter! Carter!”
He had never imagined that one day his name would be called out like this.
This was not a military roll call, nor was it a command or a whispered curse; it was a fervent recognition and support. He stood there, his hands being held, shoulders being patted, his body surrounded by the embrace of these strangers. He even felt his breath becoming labored because everything was happening so suddenly and intensely that it was almost overwhelming.
At that moment, Rain's hand landed on his shoulder.
Unlike the rough pats around him, Rain's palm was steady and strong. He pressed down gently twice, as if to remind him or perhaps to make a promise.
“Your speaking skills are impressive, Carter,” Rain said with a smile, genuine admiration in his tone. “What you say carries weight; people want to listen to you. Have you considered… coming to my office to help out?”
Carter turned his head, looking at Rain with confusion.
“Of course, this isn’t for free,” Rain chuckled lightly, his tone relaxed yet undeniably persuasive. “You’ll get paid and also fight for better benefits for veterans like yourself. These people—” he gestured to the crowd still shouting around them, “they need someone who truly understands them, and you… Carter, you are that person.”
Carter’s eyes widened slightly; he had never thought he would hear such words.
Fight for veterans’ benefits? This country had left them in the trash for decades; could this really be possible?
His throat tightened as he looked lost for a moment before finally asking softly, “Is this really possible? I mean…”
He paused, taking a deep breath as if afraid his words might sound too naive. He lowered his voice: “Can we really fight for the rights we deserve?”
Rain didn’t answer immediately; he simply stared at Carter with deep and unwavering eyes, as if their conversation had transcended words and evolved into a higher level of understanding.
Then he slowly nodded, a smile creeping onto his lips.
“If we don’t fight for ourselves, who will?”
Carter's gaze swept across the crowd, which remained restless and agitated. Their emotions were like a flame ignited, burning wildly in the air, showing signs of getting out of control.
Several police officers and mall security had intervened, moving back and forth at the edge of the crowd, raising their hands in an attempt to calm the situation and soothe the overly excited supporters. Some officers whispered, "Alright, enough. Everyone stay calm." But these words were ineffective for many, as this was not just a simple speech; it was a release, a long-suppressed outcry.
Carter stood still, his gaze wandering as he continued to digest Rain's proposal.
Was it really possible? To fight for the rights they deserved?
But Rain seemed to give him little time to hesitate, as he turned around and raised his hand to summon an assistant.
The assistant was a slender man dressed in a crisply ironed shirt, wearing metal-framed glasses that made him look like a seasoned political handler. He quickly approached Rain without asking questions, pulling out a notebook and phone from his pocket, ready to take notes.
Rain lightly nudged Carter with his elbow and smiled, "Brother, give him your contact information so we can reach you."
Carter hesitated for a moment before slowly providing his phone number.
The assistant quickly jotted it down and then looked up, politely nodding. "Mr. Carter, thank you for your speech today. Mr. Ryan is very eager to stay in touch with you. If you have time, please come by our office; we can discuss specific plans."
Rain patted Carter on the shoulder with a firm yet brotherly warmth. "Brother, we're on your side."
He lowered his voice, sincerity in his tone. "Come by when you can."
Carter remained silent, staring into Rain's eyes, trying to discern truth from calculation.
But Rain continued to smile, his eyes filled with certainty and expectation, as if waiting for Carter's answer.
Meanwhile, in the distance, the voices of the crowd surged like ocean waves; shouts and anger lingered in the street.
The procession soon moved forward as the convoy began to roll. The crowd followed Rain's figure with undiminished passion, their slogans still echoing through the streets. Their voices gradually faded away like a brief yet fierce storm sweeping through the avenue before rushing toward their next target.
Carter stood still, not following the crowd, and no one paid him any more attention.
He remained there, watching the throng of people fade away, the shouts around him gradually becoming a blur, as if everything was just an illusory dream. Did what just happened… really happen?
He slowly raised his hand, his fingertips gently touching the Dog Tag against his chest. The cold metal pressed against his skin felt real.
But did all of this truly belong to him?
He lowered his head, exhaling softly, then began to walk forward slowly.
His life had always been a dull gray, struggling day after day on the edge, like a walking corpse forgotten by society. Yet in that moment just now, when those strangers applauded for him, when his name was called out, when Rain patted his shoulder and told him, "Brother, we stand with you"…
It was as if he caught a glimpse of light.
He was reluctant to invest his whole being into this; he did not trust hope and rarely believed in anyone. But at least, in that moment, it seemed something worth celebrating had occurred.
He lifted his gaze to the street ahead, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
This smile was so subtle it was almost imperceptible, but it was real.
At least today felt different.
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