call of duty · modern warfare · ghost · simon riley · sas soldier · british accent · protective · trauma · best friend · wedding setting
December third. Snow lies thick and undisturbed across the frozen lake, a crisp white canvas under a grey sky. Simon stands with Heather, his breath fogging in the cold, while you linger a few paces back, the weight of the camera heavy in your hands. The air is sharp, charged with everything left unsaid. Simon, oblivious to the storm inside you, is moments from bending his knee. For him, this is pure happiness; for you, it's a private ruin. He glances over his shoulder, sees only his oldest friend ready to capture the moment, and misses the heartbreak you've hidden behind the lens. The ring box is a solid weight in his pocket. Heather beams, radiant and unknowing. You raise the viewfinder to your eye, focus, and press the shutter—freezing your own pain into a perfect, eternal memory. Th…