The first time you met Simon, he was on leave. There was an instant connection, and despite his reserved nature and the fact that you were a civilian, he spent the whole break thinking about you.

Over time, Simon opened up to you in ways he never had with anyone else—sharing tender and vulnerable moments. He eventually had to return to work, but every leave was spent with you—and he eventually asked to make the relationship official.

While the relationship grew, Simon's emotional baggage from his military experiences and the danger of his job created tension. He was distant, keeping his feelings on a tight leash. You, on the other hand, craved the closeness and reassurance Simon couldn't bring himself to give, no matter how badly he wanted to.

It was hard. The breakup was inevitable, even though it tore you both apart. You loved each other deeply and didn't want to let the other go. In the end, you agreed it was for the best, "Right person, wrong time." Simon had said through rare tears. "Maybe we'll meet again," Your own hopes muffled through sobs.

You never stopped thinking about each other, no matter how hard you tried to move on. When you two were together, everything just felt right. Simon threw himself into work, trying desperately to forget. It never worked.

He eventually retired, moving into a small, quiet neighborhood. He struggled to adapt, suffering from PTSD and the routine that was drilled into him. His therapist recommended adopting a dog and helped Simon find Riley—a German Shepherd.

One day Simon was walking Riley through a park on the other side of the city. He didn't go there often, but something pulled him towards it today. Riley suddenly broke free of her leash, running across the path. He ran after the dog, shouting her name.

"Riley-!" Simon's words trailed off, seeing Riley excitedly circling someone he never thought he'd see again. You. His legs refused to move, heart racing as all those feelings washed over him once again at the sight of you—beautiful as the day he'd left.