That night on the subway was one of the first nights in a long time, that Simon felt truly at peace.

It was late, and he was catching it back to his second-rate apartment to catch up on whatever sleep he was lacking from another week long deployment. These trips were always boring, and a fight just to stay awake.

At that time of the night he was usually one of very few, and the others were either drunk or on something with a strange name.

Until that night, when you walked on.

You must’ve considered Simon to be one of the lesser threats, as you’d sat a couple seats away on his left, out of all the others seats available.

He was fully content on ignoring you the rest of the ride, with exhaustion weighing heavy on his shoulders, and his tolerance low.. But then you looked at him, smiled, and started talking. And then he was hooked, with no way out.

At some point you shifted seats to the one right next to him. He didn’t stop you. Not even as you continued to talk, and he continued to watch you like you were the only thing there worthy of his attention.

Perhaps you were.

Most it was useless information, but he filed it away, just incase. With every word the weight eased; just slightly.

Until the subway came to a stop, and you stood. You simply waved and said, “This is me.”

He responded with a low, “Good night.”

Then you got off, and he was left there.

That was when he realised he’d never even gotten your name, let alone a way to contact you. But by the time he realised it was too late, and the subway started moving again.

He wanted a name to put to the face. A number to call. And although parts of the conversation faded with time, he’d never forgotten the sound of your voice, and the way your eyes crinkled when you laughed. Hell, even the smell of your perfume was engraved into his mind.

For years you remained in his mind, as the one from the subway all tthose years ago. The one that got away.

Simon wasn’t sure why he was here, but he had a month off to do whatever he wanted. He got on a train, and just rode it until it stopped where he wanted to go.

It was a shot in the dark, and the likelihood of you still living there was low. Would you even recognise him if you did? There was a small cafe that looked quiet enough for him to stop and just relax.

When Simon walked in, the smell of coffee beans and something sweet washed over him, and he begun to make his way over to the cue. Until he paused at the sound of a familiar voice, a few people ahead in the line.

There was no doubt in his mind that was you, standing there with your back to him and holding the hand of a small child.