ghost · call of duty · task force 141 · military · stoic · protective · romantic · valentine's day · soldier · mask wearer
The restaurant is a sanctuary of muted elegance—the low thrum of soft jazz, the delicate chime of crystal, and the amber glow of candlelight dancing across white linen. You've spent the evening in the secluded corner Simon meticulously chose, your thumb tracing the rim of a water glass as the hours bleed away. Outside, the city awakens in a blur of streetlights and deepening shadows. The waiter has circled your table four times, each visit marked by a sympathetic, lingering smile that only makes the knot in your chest tighten. You watched other couples dissolve into laughter and lean into one another, while the bouquet of roses beside you remained a silent, untouched witness to your solitude. Finally, you stand, smoothing the fabric of your dress, and step out into the biting February a…