The coastal town of Serenity Cove lay nestled between rolling hills and the sparkling expanse of the ocean. On a clear summer morning, the town's charm was breathtaking. The streets, lined with quaint cottages adorned in pastel shades, led down to the main harbor where fishing boats swayed gently in the gentle sea breeze. Seagulls circled overhead, their cries echoing against the tranquil sounds of the waves.

The townsfolk were a tight-knit community, and the town itself felt like a family, where everyone knew everyone else's name. Neighbors greeted each other with smiles and the air was filled with the warm scent of fresh, salty sea air. It was a place where time seemed to slow down, where worries dissipated like mist under the morning sun.

Amidst this picturesque backdrop, stood Alex, a man in his early thirties, with striking green eyes and a rugged handsomeness that drew attention even in such a close-knit community. His broad shoulders and confident demeanor gave him an air of strength and determination. But despite his outward appearance, there was an undeniable heaviness in his gaze, a weight that bore down on his soul.

Alex had returned to Serenity Cove after serving overseas as a soldier, a chapter of his life that had profoundly marked him, leaving both visible and hidden scars. As he stepped off the bus onto the town square, a rush of memories flooded back. The familiar cobblestone streets were now tinged with new meaning and old pain.

His childhood friend, Lucas, had come to pick him up. He waited in the town square and spotted Alex as a bus passed by. He jogged over to Alex's rigid position. Lucas, tall and lanky, had been there with him through thick and thin. "Welcome back, buddy," Lucas said, giving Alex a firm hug.

There was a mix of excitement and concern in Lucas's eyes, and he knew better than to probe too deeply into Alex's state of mind.

Alex's return had been long-awaited, but it came with the baggage of adjustment. The townspeople had missed him, and yet, they understood that the war had transformed him.

The locals, with their gossip and their well-meaning questions, had often been more challenging for Alex to face than his military service.

In the car, Lucas tried to ease the tension with light conversation.

"You know Jenna got married to an old folk some time last week" Lucas looks at Alex.

Alex looks like he was in another place, only that he's present in the car.

"Hope you're good man?" Alex looks at Lucas then manages a smile before looking out the window again.

Alex's thoughts remained anchored to the memories he had carried back. Nothing seemed interesting to him at the moment.

As they passed by familiar places—Mrs. Anderson's bakery where he used to get his favorite cinnamon rolls, the park where he used to play catch with Lucas, the old fashioned diner that he and his family usually have family dinners and get-togethers—a mixture of nostalgia and anguish overtook him.

When they reached the little house by the sea, the one he had grown up in, Alex stepped out of the car and gazed at it for a long moment. It was a modest cottage, weathered by the salt and sea breeze.

The memories of his childhood and the love of his parents that had filled this house felt distant and bittersweet. It was a home he had yearned for while overseas, and now it was his sanctuary.

Lucas also came out of the car, stood beside his best friend and gave him a friendly pat on the back.

"Your family missed you all the time, especially your mom. Talks about you all day and every day in a week." He adjust his weight to one leg.

"They are excited about your return but also respect your privacy and space which is why they moved to the other side of the town to give you the space you need."

Alex, moved by what he heard, was filled with so much emotions that he found it hard to breathe or speak but was able to voice out his gratitude to his friend.

"Thank you very much, not just for picking me up but for being with my family during my absence." Alex expressed his gratitude.

"Come on man, that's what friends are for. I am just really glad that you are back." He paused "In one piece " and they both laughed.

"Thanks again" Alex said and Lucas nodded looking at the coastal cottage, beholding it's magnificent beauty.

"Come on, let's get inside " Alex nodded and walked up the porch steps to the front door while Lucas was bringing out Alex's bags from the car.

Alex put the key in the keyhole, took in a deep breath and turned the key. The sound of the lock making him know that he's about to start a new beginning, a new life afresh and time to leave his wartime experience in the past and focus on the future that's right in front of him.

He opened the door and what greeted him was darkness.

He entered inside and turned on the lights and was taken aback by the 'welcome home' banner hung on the ceiling with other decorations dangling from the ceiling and some decorated on furnitures. Asides the decorations, the house looks like how he remembered it used to be.

Lucas helped him carry his bags inside. "You'll find everything pretty much how you left it," Lucas commented, setting the bags down in the living room. The room was decorated with memorabilia from his youth, including an old photograph of Alex's parents on their wedding day.

Alex nodded, his gratitude evident. "Thanks, Lucas. I appreciate you being here."
Lucas gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "Anytime, buddy. We're here for you. We've missed you." They had a man hug and Lucas left.

After Lucas departure, Alex was left to face the stark reality of his return. He had been through the turmoil of war, and the scars, both physical and emotional, were reminders of that painful journey.

He walked around the house, going into all the rooms, checking everything out. Though, there have been some changes here and there but the three bedrooms, kitchen, back patio and the attic still looks the same as he had left it when he and his family used to live in there together.

He found a small booklet on the bed in the master bedroom which says 'Welcome home Alexander Dimitri McQueen" he rolled his eyes when he saw his middle name which he detest most but adored by his mom because of her first crush in highschool which still keeps his dad on edge.

He opened the book and saw a handwriting that he recognize as his mother's writing. It says

Welcome home son, we have been expecting this day since you left to fight for the freedom of our country. You were very brave to get out of your comfort zone to face the trauma of war. We, your family are happy that you have returned. We know that you might need space which is why we all left the cottage for you till you feel comfortable to visit us. The address is written at the end of this letter. Your dad and I moved to the other side of the town, closer to the sea, more like an island. Your older sister Emily, is married and has moved to the city with her husband and she has also started her catering business while your younger brother is in college in another country. I have a feeling he wants to be far away from us, and it's not because the college is that good.

"Much expected" he shrugged.

You know he has always been odd, keeps to himself and never really talk to his family

Alex nodded in agreement.

Anyways, I just want you to know that we miss you and are expecting you, hopefully soon.

~ Love
Your mother

Below the letter was the address to his parents new home, his sister's house in the city and his brother's college location.

Alex hugged the book to his chest remembering every word of assurance from his mother's letter and holding onto them. He then went into the bathroom.

In the bathroom, he rolled up his sleeves to reveal the shrapnel scars on his arms, remnants of a bomb blast that had nearly cost him his life. He touched those scars as if to reconnect with the reality of being home.

The mirror reflected the unspoken anguish in his eyes. There was an inner turmoil that he had not yet shared with anyone, not even Lucas. The nights haunted him with vivid dreams of war, and the days were filled with a feeling of disconnection from the simplicity of life in Serenity Cove.

For Alex, coming back to this serene coastal town was both a relief and a challenge. He had left to protect his country and returned to find that he needed protection too, protection from the demons that he had carried back with him from a distant, tumultuous world. The battles he faced on foreign soil were nothing compared to the war within himself.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the sea, Alex stood at the window, his gaze lost in the waves. The picturesque town, with its idyllic charm, was now a backdrop to his inner struggle. It was a place that held both the promise of healing and the reminder of the emotional wounds he needed to confront.

And so, as the first day of his return came to a close, Alex knew that his journey was just beginning—a journey that would test the strength of his spirit and the power of love in the face of personal conflict.