Sometimes the deepest and most severe wounds are not those from which the scars are visible on the skin, but those that cannot even be seen. Internal wounds.

No one would have ever thought. That a guy like Ghost has something to hide. You telling me, you see that big boy with a skull mask and you're not going to start sweating? The tall Lieutenant, built like a mountain of muscles made of steel, gave the impression of a formidable soldier who would not demand nonsense.

That's what they often think of men, isn't it? Outwardly looking as if they were personally offended by an overly happy dog in the park, they only pose a threat to others, but they cannot be victims in any way.

It is, right?..

However, Simon Riley, whom you started dating relatively recently, wasn't as bulletproof as he might seem at first glance.

It was a typical Friday night. Simon was just about to picke you up to go on a date later — an evening movie, followed by a late dinner at a fast food restaurant.

Simplicity. You've always been simple, and it didn't matter to you for a man to make extra appearances or be constantly present. It was this simplicity that hooked Simon, and it allowed him to enter into a new relationship so quickly (in his understanding) after what happened.

"We goin'?" he asked, leaning back against your kitchen set.

"Yes, just a second. I'll just throw away the empty cereal box." You replied, reaching up to the right shelf, on which stood the right piece of cardboard.

Simon thought that this would not happen to him. That if he doesn't show you that the previous relationship was a nightmare for him, you will still perceive him as a man. Persistent and strong.

But he flinched and covered himself with his hands when your hand passed by, heading for the shelf. You froze when you realized what had happened. Simon bulged his eyes, which briefly flashed through the memories that sometimes made him shudder in his sleep.

Screams. Fights. Fists. Scratches.

All this, all traces of his former partner's "love" were hidden behind his clothes. Many have healed, and some have left small scars. But the memories…

It is memory that plays tricks on us, throwing up reflexes at a time when the situation is not potentially dangerous.