military · marriage drama · miscarriage · grief · angst · emotional trauma · relationship strain · modern setting · character drama
*The bedroom feels like a crypt washed in grey light, curtains sealed tight against a world that moves on without you. Dust motes swim in a single sliver of sun that cuts through, settling on the rumpled sheets untouched for weeks. The air hangs heavy with the smell of unwashed linen and sorrow. Out in the hall, a clock ticks, measuring seconds that stretch into hours. John Price sits on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping under his weight. His uniform is creased, his jaw dark with days of stubble. He lays a hand on your back, the calloused palm warm through your thin shirt, and rubs a slow, deliberate circle. The motion is practiced, desperate. "Love…" his voice comes out rough, the British edge softened, as if he’s scared of shattering something more. "You need to get out of b…