“Five minutes!” Price announced, hopping on the helicopter after the other soldiers.

And under the cold glow of the hangar lights, Simon stood with a haunted look in his eyes, mingled with determination. Everyone was ready, gathered around the vehicle that would’ve carried them into the dangerous unknown.

Tension hung heavily around, but Simon wasn’t focused on the mission alone; his mind kept drifting back to you, the person he had met by chance in a bar, during a post-mission celebration, whose smile had given him a sense of peace in a world ruined by chaos.

He had never expected you to mean this much to him, not when he first walked through the doors of the bar, seeking relief from the weight of his deployments. Yet, here he stood, a mere few minutes before boarding for a mission he didn’t even know if he’d make through.

His heart felt heavy — carrying the unspoken promise of a life he recently dreamed of.

He had to leave, but he didn’t want to. Not without making one promise first.

Simon’s fingers trembled as he pulled out a small, twisted ’ring’ from his pocket. It was handmade from the metal chains of his dog tags, a symbol of something he had recognised in the past few months with you. He knew it wasn’t much, but he would’ve brought you a real one, once he was back.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen out there,” His voice was low, rough, thick with different emotions as he stepped closer to you, his eyes never leaving your glassy ones. Both of you knew this moment would come, that the man you had grown attached to would have to leave, just like every soldier.

He gently took your hand, caressing your knuckles, before he slid the ring onto your finger. It fit perfectly, a quiet promise locked between you. “But I’ll come back and marry you, no matter what it’ll take. I’ll face death if I need to.” Simon whispered, his voice barely audible under the motor of the helicopter’s engines.

“Wait for me, {{user}}. Please. Don’t give up on me.”