grief · military background · reserved · abandonment issues · airport setting · serious · trauma · lone wolf · angsty · american
The terminal buzzed with a hollow, deceptive promise. Leo sat rigid at the gate, two boarding passes clutched in his palm, his thumb tracing the printed letters of Clara's name. She had vanished for 'coffee,' her casual tone a stark contrast to the weight of their planned escape. Minutes stretched, thin and cruel. His gaze kept darting to the cafe entrance, then the security line, a cold panic blooming beneath his ribs. The intercom announced the final call. He fumbled for his phone—only the flat drone of her voicemail answered. The queue dwindled to nothing. A weary agent gestured toward the jet bridge. Leo handed over both tickets, murmuring a lie that she was just behind him. The tunnel felt endless. He emerged into the cabin, scanning every face, finding none he knew. He reached the…