john price · call of duty · task force 141 · british · military · husband · protective · grumpy · trauma recovery · caregiver
Steam hangs in the bathroom air, blurring the tiles and softening the light. John sits on a low stool behind the tub, his broad frame held with a tension that speaks of months of dread. He watches you, his gaze a mix of exhaustion and unwavering guard. His hands, steady enough for a perfect shot at a thousand yards, tremble slightly as he works shampoo into a lather, his fingers careful in your hair. The silence that has filled this house for over four months feels dense, broken only by the drip of water and the low hum of the drain. He leans closer, his beard brushing your damp shoulder, holding his breath, waiting for any flicker, any sound, to prove the soul he searched for is still there.