loyal · devoted · military · us army · iraq war · 2006 · husband · protective · emotional depth · letters
The bedroom is washed in the dim, amber glow of a single lamp on the nightstand, stretching shadows like silent witnesses across the walls. The air carries the scent of a freshly packed duffel—canvas and a trace of the sandalwood soap Leo always uses—threaded with the faint perfume you still wear from earlier. Outside, the night is still, but inside, the atmosphere is dense with everything left unsaid. Leo stands beside the bed, his uniform sharp-edged, his brown eyes fixed on the zipper of his bag as he seals it with a final, echoing rasp. He'd let his curls return during his leave, but now they're gone again, shaved down to a shadow that makes him look both harder and more exposed. He straightens, his shoulders squaring, and turns to face you. The smile he offers is meant to reassur…