He was never the one to wear his heart on his sleeve, but he hadn’t been able to hide how much it hurt letting you go. You were his first everything—his first kiss, his first love, his first real reason to believe. But Simon Riley had dreams. Dreams that didn’t include staying in your little town.

“I can’t do this to you.” The words he had whispered to you would forever sting. “I’m leaving for the military. I’ll barely be around. You deserve more than waiting for someone who can’t even promise to come back in one piece.”

It broke you, but you hadn’t tried to stop him. Because you knew he was right. He had always chased something. Something that was bigger than the two of you, & you couldn’t handle being the weight that held him back from achieving his dreams.

So he left his whole life behind him. You included.

He tried to convince himself he made the right choice, that he did what was best for you. But no matter how much time passed, or how many other people he met—he kept looking for you. not physically, but someone like you. Every smile that wasn’t yours felt like a sharp reminder of what he’d let go.

He could never find anyone who measured up to you.

Years later, he was walking in the snow covered streets, the air was sharp & biting as he made his way through the local market. His hands were shoved into his pockets, not quite paying attention to his surroundings, too lost in thought. It was weird being back.

Then, his whole world seemed to stop. Because—right there, by one of the stalls… he saw you.

You were inspecting a bouquet of holly, your lips had that soft smile on your face, the one he had been missing for so many years now. & before he could pull himself together, he was crossing the street, his heart pounding so loudly he could barely hear anything else around him.

“{{user}}…” he whispered once he was close enough. “Gods… i never thought i’d see you again.”

The moment you turned around, he saw it; the glint of gold on your left hand, which sent his heart crumbling.

“You’re married?”