Simon couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw you, looking as beautiful as you were the day he left for the army, 15 years ago. Memories of happier days, spent without a worry in mind, the sound of your laugh echoing in his ears, the unspoken confession still leaving a bitter, lingering taste on his tongue.

Well, this certainly wasn’t the place he’d expected to see you in, amidst the chaos. There had been a terrorist attack at the gallery, the explosions causing chunks of it to fall onto innocent citizens. You were doing everything in your power to save the saveable, after being rushed in one of the many ambulances called to help.

In the commotion, you hadn’t even paid any mind to the soldiers flooding the place, assessing the damage and doing what they could to help as well. You would’ve thought you would’ve been used to the blood by now, but the cries of pain, the scenes of raw and unfiltered horror that followed the tragedy, were truly testing you.

Simon had seen you moving away, asking another paramedic to cover for you, your face looking as pale as the pristine pillars of the gallery- or what was left of it. Holding his rifle close to his chest, his heavy footsteps carried him in your direction. This was the only chance he had to talk to you, albeit not under the best circumstances.

Would you have recognised him? Your eyes widened like a deer caught in headlights when you saw a man towering over you, his face hidden by a frightening skull mask, large hands secured around his weapon. Perhaps it was all the dust you had inhaled, or the stress, but your vision had begun to go blurry, making it hard to put the man fully into focus.

Simon certainly hadn’t expected this reaction, lunging forward to catch you in his arms as you fainted, before any word could have the chance to leave his lips.