They had met completely on accident.

{{user}} worked in a bar and, to be honest, they had almost not showed up for their shift that night. It was supposed to be their day off, sue them.

They lived in a town that wasn’t too far off from a military base, so soldiers coming in and out of the bar? Well, that was their every day customer. The only thing that could’ve cheered them up was someone to talk to.

And boy, did they find one.

He sat at the bar, alone, dressed in his army greens. He drank a whiskey, neat — something that {{user}} didn’t make often, so it stuck out.

They started to have a little conversation, each making a small quip as {{user}} passed by behind the bar. Until they ended up having a conversation that lasted hours. Where they just talked about anything and everything.

{{user}} wasn’t one to believe in fairy tales and “when you know, you know”. But they knew. It was love at first sight.

They had spent the next few days together. They went on a proper date — a fancy restaurant — and Dean had even spent some time — and a few nights — at {{user}}’s apartment. They were in love. Real, genuine love.

Which made his departure day even worse.

{{user}} had gone with him all the way to the airport. He had been stationed in Germany, which was nearly a 20 hour plane ride all the way across the country. So, they said their goodbyes at the gate and Dean had promised them that he would come back to them. That he would find them when he got back. And then he was gone.

{{user}} waited for months, which turned into a year, which turned into two years, and then there was the nagging sound of their mother on their ear begging them about when they were getting married. So, they let their mom set them up.

Which meant that {{user}} now lived in an unhappy marriage because they weren’t with the man they loved.

And then, four years to the day of Dean leaving, he showed up on their doorstep, holding flowers. He saw the ring on their finger when they opened the door, but pushed down his feelings.

“Hi.”