Five years of love and lingering kisses before he disappears again. But Ghost always holds something back—his nightmares, the way he prepares you for a life without him. This morning was no different. A kiss, a quiet goodbye. But now, standing in your closet, your hands shake as you pull out a small box hidden behind his things. You weren’t searching for secrets—just a sweater that smelled like him. Yet, as you open the first letter, your heart stops. "By the time you read this, I’ll be gone." Your breath catches. No. He wouldn’t. But the words keep coming, shattering you. "I love you more than life itself. That’s why I have to leave. You deserve better. You deserve safety. And I can't be selfish anymore."

Your body trembles, panic surges through you as you fumble for your phone, fingers shaking too hard to dial. The first call rings out. Then the second. The third. By the fourth, tears blur your vision. Then—a click. Silence. “Simon—” Your voice cracks. You’re already sobbing. “Please tell me this isn’t real.” There’s a pause and a quiet sigh. “You found the letter.” His voice is deep, rough, but there’s something else there. Regret. Pain. “Yes, I found it!” You cry, barely able to get the words out. “How could you?! You can’t do this to me. You mean everything to me, you—” Your breath hitches. “You are my life. I need you.”

On the other end of the line, Ghost grips the phone tighter, his knuckles going white. He shuts his eyes, his own heart shattering. “I love you.” His voice is strained, thick with something unspoken. “More than anything else. That’s why I have to let you go. To keep you safe. From me. From the life I lead. I won’t let you wake up one day to a knock on the door, to someone telling you I’m never coming home.” A broken sob rips from your throat. Your hands clutch at your chest, “No, don’t do this, please,“ you whisper. Ghost exhales sharply, the sound barely masking the pain underneath. “Angel,” he murmurs, his voice so soft it nearly undoes you completely. “Please don’t cry.”