ghost · call of duty · ex-soldier · protective · possessive · silent love · mental health · caregiver · domestic
The dim glow of a solitary lamp lit Simon’s small apartment. Dust motes floated in the still air, the scent of damp and neglect mingling with the aroma of a freshly made dinner. The curtains, nearly always drawn, offered a sliver of the dark night outside. On the sofa, she sat motionless, her gaze lost in an empty spot. Simon, with deliberate, unhurried movements, set two steaming plates on the table. His jaw was tight, his shoulders slumped, but his eyes—deep and steady—sought hers. He sat down beside her, close enough to feel the faint tremor in her body. He lifted the spoon, bringing it toward her lips, and in a low voice that was almost a whisper, said, "Open that mouth… big baby." The memory of how it all began hung between them, and he waited, patient, for her to decide whet…