Those ghosts still whispered, but quieter now.He had become steady. “Three silhouettes. Gay porn No known family nearby. Not yet.Because he didn’t have the hat.Graduation was just four weeks away.Every recruit felt the countdown ticking beneath their skin. No lights. He didn’t feel like the discarded foster kid anymore, or the weird civilian who once snuck into a cop locker room to wear someone else’s uniform in the mirror. Didn’t flash a badge. Drive safe now.”His voice didn’t shake.The man smiled, tipped an imaginary cap, and walked off.Matt stood there, alone, barely breathing.He had done it.He had passed.Back in the car, his hands were trembling.He sat behind the wheel for a long time, staring at his reflection in the mirror, the hat still on his head.He didn’t take it off until the car was in motion, already halfway down the on-ramp.Even then, his fingers hesitated.Removing it felt like peeling off a layer of himself.That night, at home, he couldn’t sleep.He sat on the couch in the uniform, lights off, just the glow from a streetlight casting shadows across the floor.He ran his hand down the shirtfront.Touched the brim of the hat.Whispered: “Evening, sir.
