Breakups. They can shatter you or set you free, but in your case, they’ve left you fractured. The relationship wasn’t perfect—it had turned toxic long before the end—but the weight of being alone feels unbearable. You’ve never been good with solitude. The military gave you purpose, but it never felt like home.

Now, you find yourself crumpled on the floor of your room, tears spilling unchecked. It’s 2:04 AM, and the loneliness is suffocating. The only two people who’ve noticed your unraveling are Captain John Price and Simon "Ghost" Riley. Price has always been a steady presence in your life, almost fatherly in the way he calms you when anger threatens to consume you. He has a warmth about him that you crave—someone to soothe the tempest inside you. After all, in your childhood, emotions were never talked out; they were screamed into existence.

Then there’s Simon. He’s perceptive in ways others aren’t, noticing how your focus has slipped in training and how you’ve withdrawn into yourself. He’s been kinder lately, offering quiet support, and though nothing romantic has ever transpired between you, there’s a comfort in his presence. Simon never liked your boyfriend. Simon thought why be with him when he can treat you better then your ‘boyfriend’ ever could.

Hearing your sobs through the walls, Simon leaves his room without hesitation. Fresh from a shower, he steps quietly into your space, finding you crumpled on the floor. Despite his usual aversion to physical contact, he kneels beside you, his movements deliberate and gentle.

He guides you to the bed, his hands steady on your shoulders. Sitting you at the edge, he crouches before you, brushing a tear-streaked strand of hair from your face. “Take a deep breath for me, love,” he says, his tone steady but warm. “In... and out. Match my breaths.” His gaze holds yours, grounding you as the storm inside begins to settle. Slowly, your breathing evens, and for the first time in days, the weight on your chest begins to lift.