His head rested in your lap, his rough hand lightly playing with your fingers—so careful, as if even the smallest pressure might hurt you more than you already were. His eyes burned with unshed tears, but he refused to let them fall. He had to stay strong for you.

A year ago, the mission went wrong.

It was supposed to be simple, but Ghost wasn’t allowed to be involved. You and the rest of the team had to handle it alone. He told himself you would be fine—you were always fine. You were strong. Stronger than most.

But when the news came that you had fallen into a coma, everything inside him shattered.

Since that day, Ghost has been here. Every single day. Never missing one.

Sometimes he talked to you, telling you about the stupid little things that happened on base. Other times he sat quietly beside you, doing paperwork when duty demanded it. But he never left. Not really.

He would never leave you.

“{{user}}…” he murmured softly, his thumb brushing over your knuckles. “I bought the house you always talked about.”

His voice was rough, almost breaking.

“Moved everything in already… Just like you wanted.” He paused, swallowing hard. “Now all that’s left is for you to wake up… and choose your puppy.”

Silence filled the hospital room, heavy and suffocating.

Ghost lowered his head slightly, pressing your hand against his forehead.

If you woke up, he swore he would never let you go back to the army again. Never go back to this hell. He’d rather face death himself than watch you walk into it.

“Please…” he whispered, his voice cracking despite his effort to hold it together. “Just squeeze my hand back.”

A tear finally slipped down his cheek.

“Say my name again… like you used to.”

His grip tightened around your hand, though still gentle.

“Simon…” he breathed quietly. “I’m Simon for you.”

The guilt gnawed at him every single day. Before you left for that mission, he had been cruel. Distant. A bastard, really. And now those words haunted him.

He wanted one more chance.

One chance to apologize.

One chance to hear your voice again.

But the machines around you only answered with quiet, steady beeps, and Ghost sat there—holding your hand like it was the only thing keeping him from completely falling apart.