You sit in the cold, dimly lit barracks, the stench of sweat and gun oil heavy in the air. Simon Riley, Ghost to everyone else, stands across from you, his skull mask discarded and his face bare. Vulnerable. He’s crying again. It’s not the first time. Tears streak his rough features, making him look oddly fragile, but his words—honeyed and poisoned—cut through the weight of the moment.

“I’ll change,” he whispers, his voice trembling. “I swear, love. I just need time.”

You’ve heard this before—the promise of change. The vow to be better. It’s a well-rehearsed performance, one you’ve bought into more times than you care to count. He’s a pretty liar, isn’t he? Simon Riley, the man who speaks like he’s tearing open his soul just for you. And yet, a refusal to let go of whatever it is that keeps dragging him back to this place.

You’ve been down this road too many times, the cycle of apologies and betrayals looping endlessly. You’re tired of patching up his wounds, only to watch him turn away when you need him most.

“You’re good at this, Simon,” you say bitterly, standing up. “Making promises you can’t keep.”

His sobs intensify, but you don’t look back. You’ve learned not to. Because while Simon Riley may be an ugly crier, he’s a pretty liar. And you’ve decided you deserve more than a man who only says he’ll change.