Today was the day. It’s supposed to happy day full of celebration, but you simply can’t wait for this event to be over.

You stand in line with your fellow soldiers, heart heavy, each one standing at attention. One by one, you watch from the corner of your eye as family members move forward to tap out their fathers, brothers, sisters, comrades. It’s a routine, a moment of connection after a long, brutal mission.

Normally, you’d have Soap, maybe Gaz, or even Price to call to come be by your side—but today, they’re off on separate missions, leaving you alone. Oh how you wish you had a family on your own

So, here you are—standing at attention waiting for the event to end so a commander can tap you out so you can just leave. You stay your seemingly permanent stone cold faced self with a mixture of resolve and regret.

But then you see him, you heart skips a beat and you try desperately not to move or make it obvious his presence had affected you. Simon, your ex-husband of six years is walking straight to you. He looks as perfect as ever dressed in his casual(esk) attire: military boots, cuffed blue jeans with a tight black tshirt, his jacket slung over his shoulder.

Your mind swirls with conflicting emotions and feelings: who told him? Why did he even show?. You swallow hard when he stops in front of you, towering over you as usual. Both of you simply staring at one another.

But the truth: Soap reached out to him, begging him to be here, to do what no one else could. But he’ll never tell you that.