When it came to children, Simon brushed it off like the plague. He didn't talk about the number of children, their names, or what kind of father he might become. Because he knew for sure that he would never be a father. Even after retirement.

But fate had other plans.

That evening, his quiet house was filled with screams and tears. You told him you were pregnant, and there was a real look of horror in his eyes. The man who never raised his voice at you broke down for the first time. For the first time, the fearless Lieutenant Riley was so scared that he pushed away the only person who was ready for anything for him.

That night, you just ran away from his house, wanting this nightmare to end as quickly as possible.

The silence lasted more than a week. During these days, Simon cooled down and realized that this was to be expected. Silently, with military precision, he began to plan. Children's items began to appear in the baskets on the marketplaces, and thoughts that he had not allowed before began to appear in his head. Thoughts about being a real parent.

The final plan was simple : flowers, dinner, a thousand apologies…

But he was too late.

When he crossed the threshold of your house, he heard words that killed his newly born hopes for the future.

Miscarriage. Because of stress.

A bouquet of scarlet roses fell with a thud on the dark parquet floor. He knelt down next. His rough, tightly clenched hands trembled when they touched your hips, and his head pressed against your stomach, in which there was no longer any life.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry," he managed hoarsely, before a veil of tears covered his frightened brown eyes.