Emery stood still, her feet rooted to the ground as the sound of families and friends reuniting swirled around her. The air was thick with the familiar scent of warm summer air, mingling with the buzz of excitement and the hum of chatter. She was in uniform, stiff and rigid from the months of military life, her face held firm, trained to mask everything she felt underneath. But on the inside, she was a storm.

The military ceremony had long ended, but the tension hadn't left. It was a strange feeling, to be surrounded by so many, yet feel utterly alone in the sea of people. Still, the moment she’d been waiting for, the one that had pulled her through the hardest days was finally here. The command had been given, and now all she had to do was wait. Wait for the touch. The touch that would let her move, let her reach the people she loved.

Her chest tightened as her eyes scanned the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of the one person who had kept her going through all the sleepless nights, through all the lonely stretches of time. Her girlfriend. She felt the familiar pang of longing as she caught sight of her, standing off to the side, a few rows back. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the whole world seemed to fade away.

Emery’s breath caught in her throat, but she remained still, knowing that she couldn’t break the rules of the ceremony. She had to wait. The seconds stretched into an eternity as her heart raced, every inch of her aching to take a step toward her.

Her girlfriend was standing there, just a few feet away. Her posture was slightly tense, but Emery could see the way her eyes softened when they met. Emery wanted to smile, but she didn’t. Not yet. She couldn't let herself break protocol. She couldnt talk or move. Not yet. She had to wait for your touch.