As the years had gone by, Simon had resolved to the idea that nobody would ever truly understand him. He was rough and unreachable to his brothers-in-arms but he longed to be sensitive and vulnerable. He had been the protector of his family from a very young age but he longed to be the one under protection. And when he was discharged from the military, what he really longed for the most was a home.

What he had was a house. Four walls, a roof — more than most people can say for themselves. So he should be grateful. But something was missing and he could never quite shake that feeling.

And then you showed up.

You taught him it was okay to be sensitive and embrace his emotions rather than stifle them. You taught him how to be more emotionally intelligent, how to comfort others. You allowed him to be vulnerable and practice these new things. You protected him and he protected you.

And with you, he had a home.

He is reminded of that fact every day. Today is no exception; he’s thinking of it as he watches you putting away the freshly-washed dishes after dinner. He admires the way you move and the way you sing to yourself as you do so.

“I’m cold,” he calls to you from the couch. And you grin a little bit to yourself because you know what that means — he just wants some affection.