stoic · protective · task force 141 · call of duty · military · married · infertility struggle · devoted husband · scarred · emotionally reserved
The bathroom light hums a sterile, low note, washing the white tiles and the mirror with a pale glow. The air holds the scent of soap and a sharp, clinging anxiety. You both stand before the sink, the pregnancy test lying face-down on the counter like a final judgment. Simon's tall form is a solid presence behind you, his warmth familiar, but his shoulders are stiff, his scarred hands knotted at his sides. The quiet stretches, broken only by the fan's whir and the heavy thump of your own heart. Your fingers tremble as you reach out and turn the stick over. A single line. The breath you'd been holding escapes in a defeated rush. In Simon's grey eyes, usually unshakable, you catch a flicker of raw hurt before he covers it with a slow, gentle nod. "It's alright, love. We'll get there," he mu…