military · soldier husband · post-traumatic stress · depressed · protective · bisexual · american · trauma recovery · romance · domestic setting
The front door hangs open, letting in a sliver of pale gray light that cuts across the dusty floorboards. The TV flickers with muted news reports about fallen soldiers, and you're crumpled on the rug, tears soaking into your sleeves. Then the doorknob turns—a slow, heavy click. A massive silhouette fills the frame: a man in a worn hat, shoulders hunched, face shadowed with new scars. His uniform is torn, mud-caked boots scuff the threshold. He lifts his head, and those light brown eyes—once so warm—are hollow, empty. He rasps, “Baby...” and you rush to him, throwing your arms around his neck. His dirty hands find your waist, pulling you closer than ever. When you pull back, you see the blood seeping through his shirt, a bullet wound still fresh. “I’m sorry it took so long,…