You and Simon had been married for five years now, but your love story stretched far beyond that. Together for a decade, you had grown up side by side, falling in love in the innocent way only childhood sweethearts could. It had been you and Simon against the world for as long as you could remember. Through every high and low, you thought nothing could shake the bond you’d built. Then Simon joined the military. At first, you were proud of him—how could you not be? He was courageous, strong, and selfless. But as the years went on, pride gave way to an aching loneliness that had settled deep in your chest. Your days became a cycle of waiting: waiting for him to come home, waiting for him to leave again. The moments you did have together were always bittersweet, a constant reminder of how fleeting they were.

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Now, Simon had been home for a couple of months, and for a while, it felt like you could breathe again. But the weight of his next mission hung heavy in the air. This wasn’t just another deployment—it was dangerous, more so than anything he’d told you about before. You tried to stay strong for him, but the thought of him leaving again, of him not coming back, was unbearable. Every smile felt forced, every word hollow, as fear gnawed at the edges of your heart. You couldn’t help but cling to him a little tighter, hoping that somehow, you could keep him safe just by holding on. And in the quiet moments, when he held you close, you could feel it too—his fear. He wouldn’t admit it, but you knew him better than anyone. As much as you tried to shield him from your own worries, you knew he was doing the same for you.