I introduce myself as Cassandra Rhys. There will be a key defense contract review tomorrow morning, and I will be sitting across from my father and brother. I am thirty years old, and I am a Colonel in the United States Army. The fact that I am the Pentagon liaison and have the ability to provide final approval for the whole project is something that they are unaware of.
I have not turned around since I left this home five years ago, and I have not looked back since then.
The fact that I was the daughter who “threw away” her future by entering the military rather than going to business school was something that I had grown weary of being the family’s disappointment. Once upon a time, my father made the remark that the military was for those who had no genuine aspirations. It was the last time we ever had an honest chat with one other.
For supper tonight, I will be returning. After hearing of Ethan’s elevation, my mother will be overjoyed, my father will nod his head in approval, and someone will inquire as to whether or not I am “still deployed somewhere.” I won’t argue with you. They won’t be corrected by me. In light of the fact that tomorrow, when their CEO addresses me as “Colonel Rhys” in front of a room full of executives, that moment of recognition will say more than I could ever attempt to express. It is theirs to enjoy tonight. Everything is going to be rewritten tomorrow.
The driveway seemed to be more congested than I had recalled. When placed next to my mother’s battered crossover, my rented SUV seemed to be too stark and too purposeful. After turning off the ignition, I sat in silence for a while. At the same time that my stomach twisted in the same manner that it usually did before an assignment, my hands were solid, which is what we call operational calm. Over the faded welcome mat, the porch light projected a warm glow that was comforting. There had been no changes, and the sense of being both invisible and monitored that I had experienced the instant I came inside had not altered at all.
A bell was rung by me. Hello, Cassandra! My mother’s voice could be heard coming from the kitchen. “It’s opened up!”
After carefully opening the door, I entered the room. Even after all this time, the air was still filled with flowery scents. A collection of framed milestones, including Ethan’s graduation, his wedding, and his children, were displayed on the wall on the right. No pictures of me wearing my uniform. And not even the portrait that I had commissioned and sent to them many years ago.
Although she did not look up, my mother remarked, “Dinner is almost ready to be served.” “Tara and Ethan are now on their way. Are you able to comprehend that he has just been given another leadership position?
A neutral grin appeared on my face as I nodded. “That is really upbeat news. Your pride is well-deserved.
The arrival of Ethan and Tara was precisely on time, as was to be anticipated. The jacket he wore was one of those that conveys the message, “I’m busy, but approachable.”
While he was already looking around the room for our father, he gave Cass a short embrace and said, “Hey, Cass.” “It’s been a while.”
In response, I said, “Five years.” I was unsure if he was kidding or not, and he blinked. No, I wasn’t!
We ate mashed potatoes and poultry that had been roasted. The discussion at the table was headed by Ethan, who discussed the mergers of teams and the expansion of strategic plans. My father seemed to be so moved by appreciation that he may shed a tear.
In addition, what about you? With a warm but distant face, Mom shifted her attention to me. “Are you still moving around with the army even now?”
“Something along those lines.”
“Are you still a captain, for sure?” Although he did not even glance up, my father inquired.
“More or less,” the speaker said.
Adding his two cents, Ethan said, “Must be difficult, always out there with no control over the big picture.” Simply responding and carrying out a plan.”
But I did not speak out. My outfit was waiting for me upstairs, carefully folded up in my luggage, with its silver eagle emblem catching the light like a secret that was anxiously awaiting disclosure. When they woke up tomorrow, they would realize how much power I had over the plan. At this point, I will let them speak. It was going to be the very last time that they would ever speak over me.
Following supper, I went back to my old room to spend the rest of the evening there. Medals from school, varsity trophies, and letters of acceptance to college were some of the items that served as reminders of the daughter they had previously envisioned me to be. The place seemed to be stuck in time. However, there is nothing after ROTC. With regard to my deployments, nothing. No framed trophies for my efforts in the field of cybersecurity. Not a single acknowledgement of my advancement to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and definitely no mention of the remarkable accomplishment of becoming a full Colonel before the age of thirty. Within the confines of this house, that period of my life did not exist.
There was laughing coming from below. Confidence that is blooming in Ethan. a feeling that is reminiscent of a family coming together to celebrate their chosen star. The irony was quite painful. In the same military technology project that I was now in charge of supervising, he had just been appointed to the position of leading the integration team. No one knew about it. Not one of them did it.
As the Pentagon’s chief contact for Project Vanguard, which is the same initiative that Ethan boasted about over dinner, I would enter Westbridge Innovations at nine o’clock sharp the next morning to conduct the inspection. I would be dressed in full uniform.
I opened my luggage and brought out the outfit, which was a brilliant dark blue color, with medals that were well placed and insignia that shone brightly. I moved my hands in a measured manner. The purpose of tomorrow was not to disprove anyone’s claims. It was about presenting oneself in a manner that was complete, authoritative, and in a language that could not be ignored.
At 8:45 in the morning, I was parked in the DOD space that had been allocated outside of Westbridge. While I was fixing my collar, I went out wearing my complete outfit. When I went through security, everybody turned their heads to stare at me.
“Good morning, Colonel,” the security guard remarked as he carefully examined my credentials with the accuracy that he had been used to. The respect that he expressed in his voice was foreign to me, at least in comparison to what I had heard here at home.
In order to reach the executive level, I used the elevator. From the moment the doors were opened, the first person I noticed was Ethan, who was using his iPad to go through a presentation. He was taken aback and glanced up. “What the heck? Who are you, and what exactly is that?
I went by him, walking along. Hello, Mr. Rhys, and good morning! The review is the reason I’m here.
It was just a few feet away when I heard my father’s voice. As he came into view, he came to a complete halt. Is that you, Cassandra? How are things going? Why are you dressed in a uniform? His eyes flickered to others around him, analyzing the responses they were giving him. In a gradual manner, he started to realize it.
Before I could provide a response, a lady with dark hair and a keen appearance approached the corner. The Chief Executive Officer of Westbridge, Lorraine Hart, stopped in the middle of her step. Then she broke into a big grin. “I am Colonel Rhys. I was unaware that you would be coming to be with us in person. “What a delight it is!”
I extended my hand to shake hers. “Since I was in the vicinity, I believed that it would be beneficial to attend in person.”
Lorraine turned to the gathering and remarked, “Absolutely,” as she spoke. This is Colonel Cassandra Rhys, the Pentagon liaison for Project Vanguard. In case you haven’t already met her, I’d like to introduce her to everyone. She has the ability to provide final permission for any and all military integrations that pertain to this effort.
You were able to sense the change in energy. There was complete quiet in the corridor. I didn’t go back and look at either my brother or my father. It was unnecessary for me to do so. I was able to sense their astonishment even though I could not see it.
My name was written on a plaque that was waiting for me in the conference room next to Lorraine’s. Then I sat down, went over my notes, and got ready. The last people to enter were my father and Ethan, who were noticeably uneasy.
At precisely nine o’clock, the meeting got underway. At that point, Lorraine opened it and handed it to me. At the same time that I was standing and walking through our progress metrics, I was also outlining the technical needs and asking direct questions. Taking a purposeful glance around the room, I looked each person who was speaking in the eye.
Next, it was Ethan’s chance to speak. Slowly, he stood there, clenching his notes tightly. “As the lead for systems integration, I’ve developed a revised deployment schedule for Phase Two,” he remarked, stuttering slightly as he spoke. “In my opinion, it is in accordance with the recent expectations.”
For a moment, I waited. Could you please explain how your model handles the low-latency characteristics that were included in our most recent Department of Defense memorandum? I asked Mr. Rhys in a voice that was even.
His body became numb. “Okay, I’ll have to look into that again.”
“Do it, please. Achieving such requirements is of the utmost importance. I anticipate receiving a new plan by the time the work day ends on Thursday.
He nodded, his jaw clenched. “Ma’am, I agree.”
The meeting went on as planned.
Several of them remained behind after it was over, adopting new expressions that were characterized by comprehension. My position was no longer only a title in the abstract. Yes, that was true.
My dad stayed close to the corridor for a while. “Cassandra,” he whispered to me when we were separated from each other, “we need to talk.”
I gave a little nod. “Is that your workplace?”
Upon our arrival, my mother was already sitting and giving off an anxious appearance. While standing beside the window, Ethan had his arms folded. All three of them, who have been my lifetime jury, are now confronted with something that they are unable to justify away.
The question that my father ultimately asked was, “You’ve been a Colonel for how long?”
“Eighteen months.”
“And you didn’t even think to bring it up again?”
“I did,” I responded. Invites were sent out by myself. I sent email. My messages were left. It was even newspaper cuttings that I sent. There was never a response from anybody.”
My mom got in right away. The significance of it was not brought to our attention. The word “Colonel” sounded serious, but we hadn’t truly understood what he meant.
“What was the reason you didn’t tell us what it meant?”
I responded by saying, “Because I no longer felt the need to justify myself.” “Every call turned into an update about Ethan’s business,” the speaker said. “You only inquired about me in order to suggest that I return home.”
“We believed that you were unable to move,” Ethan remarked. Moving from one location to another without any sense of direction.
He caught my attention. During the previous evening, you made a joke about how individuals in the military just carry out these commands.
It was a change. “I was completely unaware of what you were doing.”
I responded by saying, “You never asked.”
My father let out a sigh. “You have constructed something that none of us can comprehend. We are responsible for it. We presumed that we were the most knowledgeable. It was not us.” An offer of his hand was made. With a heartfelt sense of humility, he addressed Colonel Rhys and said, “I owe you an apology.”
I gave it a shake. He had a solid hold on me. There is no resentment. The resolution is just. “Allowing for the apology.”
My mother was standing. If you are agreeable, we would want to begin over from scratch.
I told her, “Take it one step at a time.” In addition, I meant it for the very first time.
There was a supper in my place in Washington, DC, six months after that. A framed piece that highlighted Project Vanguard was presented by my father, and it had my image in the middle of the story. He replied, “Was thinking that you might enjoy this.” For some time now, it has been hanging on my wall.
After that, my mother served me a pie that she had prepared herself. “Remains your favorite, is that correct?”
Finally, Ethan and Tara arrived, bearing wine and smiling with a wary demeanor. After some time had passed, Ethan took me aside. The statement that he made was, “I implemented that architecture shift you suggested.” In comparison to my first strategy, it is more successful.
“Have you informed your team about the origin of the issue?”
He gave a smirk. After some time.”
I cracked a grin. “As long as it continues to hold up.”
I can see my father pausing to look at my medals from across the room. He pointed to the Cyber Defense citation and said, “This one,” and then added, “I read about it.” I was unaware that you were in charge of it.
Yes, I did.
He indicated with a nod. Certainly not a spectacular action. Simply acknowledgement is sufficient.
Later, when he was eating pie, he raised his glass. His words were directed at Colonel Cassandra Rhys. “Who showed us that the key to success is not in following the path that is expected of you, but rather in creating your own path.”
We toasted in a low voice. When I was seated at that table, I experienced something that I had never felt before: respect. Not in the capacity of a daughter or a sister, but rather as an individual who had gained indisputable status.
That same instant, I came to the realization that I had never need their approval in order to feel whole. It wasn’t vengeance that day at Westbridge; rather, it was transparency. The question of who I was was not required of me. My very presence conveyed the whole message. And I would have continued on even if they had never seen it in the first place.
mostly due to the fact that what you say is not the most compelling message. It’s the person you turn into when no one is looking at you.
