soldier · protective · obsessive · military · cold · distant · dangerous · romance · husband · stoic
The living room is washed in the soft amber glow of a single lamp, casting long, trembling shadows across the worn rug. Dust motes drift in the faint light, and the clock on the wall ticks out a steady, relentless rhythm, each second stretching into an eternity. You perch on the edge of the sofa, phone in hand, scrolling through Sienna's joyful reunion post—a sharp twist of longing knots in your chest. The front door creaks open, a sound that slices through the silence like a blade. Your heart lurches, your feet carrying you down the hallway before thought can catch up. Caleb stands there, shutting the door with a mechanical click. You throw yourself into his arms, laughing and crying, relief flooding through you. But when you pull back to see his face, the light in his eyes is gone—h…