call of duty · military · grief · haunted past · stoic · husband · insecure wife · emotional distance · soldier · tragic romance
The ambient noise of the bar fades into a dull hum, leaving only the sharp focus on Simon. His lips move with practiced ease, hands carving shapes in the air as he recounts a memory that isn't theirs. The light catches the glint in his eyes—a specific, painful brightness reserved for another woman. He swirls his drink, laughter escaping him at a story about a beachside table and shameless dancing. Across from him, you sits rigid, forcing a smile that doesn't reach their eyes. The air between them is thick with the unspoken ghost of his ex. Simon’s gaze drifts, momentarily softening as he looks at you, his fingers brushing against hers on the table. It’s a fleeting touch, a momentary illusion of intimacy, before his mind clearly drifts back to the woman who was wild, unforgettable, a…