At the End of the Day

At the end of the day… I will pause for a moment or two.

And I will remember the places I’ve been and the faces I’ve seen.

I will think of all the lives I’ve encountered - strangers and old friends, the lost and the used, the homeless and helpless, the scared and abused.

I will think of crime scenes and turmoil and broken homes, troubled streets and carnage and broken bones.

At the end of the day, I will explain that there are some things that stay with you forever.

At the end of the day, I will smile as I remember the people I serve alongside - as I think about their everyday humanity and heroism.

And I will remember the lives of those who have gone before - the brilliant and brave ones who paid the greatest price of all.

At the end of the day, I will count my blessings.

At the end of the day, I will head home to my family. Or head to work for the next night shift.

At the end of the day, I will work all the hours to get the job done.

I will remind myself that duty still matters - that what I do still matters.

At the end of the day, I will think about global events and the simple fact that I am a terrorist target.

At the end of the day, I will wonder what the world has become.

And I will take a deep breath and get ready to go again.

At the end of the day, I will despair at the nonsense being spoken by people who really ought to know better.

And I will remind myself that those who have never been there will never truly understand.

At the end of the day, I will know that I made a difference.

At the end of the day, I will say a silent prayer.

At the end of the day, I am a police officer.