Chapter 1: The Draft

The sun was just beginning to set on the small town of Millfield, casting a warm glow over the neatly manicured lawns and white picket fences. It was a peaceful, idyllic scene, one that had remained unchanged for decades.

For 23-year-old Emily Thompson, it was a sight that had always filled her with a sense of comfort and security. Growing up, she had always loved the quiet, predictable rhythms of life in Millfield. There was something reassuring about knowing that each day would be much like the last, with the only real excitement coming from the annual Fourth of July parade and the occasional visit from her grandparents.

But as Emily sat on her front porch, watching the last rays of sunlight fade away, she couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change. She had just received her draft notice that morning, ordering her to report for duty in two weeks' time.

Emily had always known that this moment would come eventually. The war in Europe had been raging for years, and though it seemed distant and abstract to most people in Millfield, she had always known that it would eventually touch her life in some way. But even as she had tried to prepare herself for the inevitable, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the prospect of leaving everything she knew behind.

As the sky grew darker, Emily's thoughts turned to her parents, who were inside the house, no doubt fretting over the same things she was. They had always been protective of her, especially her mother, who had never quite gotten over the loss of Emily's older brother, who had been killed in action three years earlier. Emily knew that the thought of losing another child would be more than her mother could bear.

But even as her heart ached at the thought of leaving her family behind, Emily knew that she had no choice. She had always believed in her country, and the idea of letting her fellow Americans fight the war alone was something she couldn't stomach.

With a heavy sigh, Emily stood up and made her way inside. It was time to start packing and saying her goodbyes. The life she had known was about to come to an end, and a new, terrifying chapter was about to begin.