post-war · soldier · ptds · scars · protective · angst · romance · trauma recovery · disabled · loyal
The afternoon sky hung heavy and bruised with clouds, casting a dull, gray light over the quiet street. It was the kind of weather that smelled of impending rain and wet earth, a scent that usually made Cassian’s skin crawl with phantom memories of mud and trench foot. But today, it was just the air. Just the air of home. A simple life was all Cassian had ever wanted. He had dreamt of a future woven tightly with yours: moving into your space, the chaotic joy of adopting a puppy he’d always talked about, easing the financial weight you carried while caring for your parents. He had wanted nothing more than to be the steady ground beneath your feet. But those dreams were shredded by a single, crisp envelope. *Cassian Oriel. Drafted for military service.* When he registered, he had lied t…