The sun had barely risen when he slipped on his worn combat boots, the weight of another grueling day pressing on his shoulders. His uniform, though neatly pressed, carried the scent of sweat and sacrifice, a reminder that his meager salary as a soldier barely covered the essentials. But that didn’t matter—not when she smiled at him, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she talked about the new café she wanted to try or the weekend plans with her friends at a mid-range lounge.

He never told her how much he struggled, how he skipped meals to save extra cash, how he took on risky side jobs after his shifts, or how his body ached from exhaustion. When payday came, he handed her the money with a quiet smile, pretending it didn’t sting when his own pockets felt empty. Watching her sip on an overpriced latte, laughing with her friends in places he could never afford for himself, he told himself it was worth it—because as long as she was happy, he could endure anything.