Make it your goal to create a marriage that feels like the safest place on earth.

-Gary Smalley

He watched her as she worked, cracking a pair of eggs over the frying pan and tossing the empty shells into the nearby garbage can. Her movements were fluid, gentle and slow. A rhythmic pattern developed over the years in the time that he’d been gone, he guessed. If he knew anything, he knew to recognize a rhythm.

“You didn’t wake me up, you know,” Sunset said quietly.

Marcos, his mind drifting away from the kitchen and towards another land, suddenly found himself pulled back into reality by the sound of his wife’s words. “Huh?”

“I didn’t wake up because you were having nightmares,” she said. “I just… figured you’d want to know.”

She grabbed the cups of coffee sitting on the nearby counter and handed the larger of the two to him, Marcos accepting it quietly and bringing it to his lips.

“Yeah, I know,” he replied, taking another sip. “I checked when I first woke up.”

“Oh. OK.”

He looked over the rim of his mug at her. “So why did you wake up, then? It’s Saturday. You get weekends off.”

Sunset shrugged, settling upon her own mug. “I don’t know,” she answered softly. “Just did, I guess.”

The two sat in silence as the morning sunshine slowly started to filter in, illuminating the soft colors of their home and erasing the miasma of gloom that had so easily pervaded it. She could still feel its presence from time to time. Sunset knew there were places she couldn’t reach yet- barriers he hadn’t yet knocked down. Remembering her last conversation with Cadance, she knew better than to push it. Let him come back at his own pace, she counseled herself. He’ll return in his own time.

Marcos regarded Sunset, watching as she returned to their breakfast and set their plates. Her hair was shorter than it had been when they were young, now falling to just beyond her shoulders rather than the waist-length waves she had once adorned. Her face was paler and her body thinner, simply signs of the times she had endured on her own. Whether it was because of his physical absence or his emotional he didn’t know. Likely an unanswerable question. He felt a squirm of guilt begin to form in his gut, wondering how much of her suffering he had intentionally dealt-

You can’t go down that road, he cautioned himself. You don’t have to think about the what-if’s. Another lesson he was trying to learn. It had been a recent technique, one he was still cultivating. It would take some time.

“Do you still wanna go today?” She asked, setting down her mug to look at him. “I mean, we don’t have to, it can always be another time.”

He had to kickstart his mind into hear to remember what she was talking about. Where had they been planning to go? Savannah, he reminded himself, the memories of the plan returning to the forefront of his mind. A trip off the installation to the nearby city less than an hour away. It had been something the two had been planning for most of the week- and honestly the first day trip they had taken together for quite some time. Good medicine to get away from the same old sights they saw every day.

“It is a Saturday, after all,” Sunset added, playing with her breakfast- another habit she had picked up, Marcos had noted. “We can just sit around the house and relax, it’s a beautiful spring day- I was thinking I could get some work done on the garden out back and you’d been mentioning that the car needed an oil change soon-”

“It’s OK,” he said suddenly, interrupting her absent-minded monologue. “We’ve been talking about going for a while… and it’d be good for us to go relax a little.” He looked up at his wife, meeting her gaze with his. “Yeah, we’ll go.”

Her eyes were ringed with black circles from months of exhaustion but it seemed as if the darkness faded a bit when they crinkled with an early morning smile. “Thanks. It’ll be fun, I promise.”

Marcos gave a nod and returned to finishing his meal- watching as, yet again, Sunset barely touched any of hers, nibbling away for a while before rising up to toss her plate in the sink. “You barely ate any of it…” he said weakly.

“Hm? Oh, I’m not very hungry yet, I’ll be fine,” she said lightly, tossing her dishes aside. “I’ll be in the bathroom if you need anything, alright?”

“Yeah.”

Her footsteps were soon swallowed by the sound of a door closing and Reyes found himself alone once more in the house that wasn’t his- true, it was technically his property, but living on a military installation usually meant no building was truly yours. At least the belongings inside belonged to him- unfortunately, the memories that came with it also bore his name.

He walked into the living room and looked across at the mantle above the fireplace, his gaze settling on the various pictures Sunset had set there. A pair of smiles visible on each other’s faces, a token from their wedding day. An old photo, the first one they had ever taken together, from an old Christmas party years prior. Another from a night they had spent with their friends- Rarity had invited the entire group over for a celebration of her first show a couple of years ago. It was the last time he had seen any of his old friends- he remembered Rainbow had refused to come and visit, something the fashionista had declined to discuss. He had never figured out why.

The rest of the mantle was empty, save for a small basket of dried flowers Sunset had put there as a decoration. No new photos, no memories worth keeping. He could hardly blame her- the words and deeds that had been dealt were likely still fresh in Sunset’s mind. Hopefully it wouldn’t stay that way.

His gaze drifted, falling down across the floor before simply settling upon nothing in particular, the patterns and colors blurring and blending as his vision became unfocused and distorted. Time began to lose its meaning and memories began to replay themselves-

Marcos gave a shake of his head and walked away a bit, doing his best to refocus. Listless again. Not a place where he needed to be. Occupy your time, he had been told- he reached for the TV remote and settled down to watch. It was better than nothing.

Early morning news. Whether it had been his fault or Sunset’s that this was the station it had been left on he didn’t know.

“And we move now to news coming straight to you from the front lines, as the war against the Crystal Empire continues on,” said the woman, a pretty blonde woman looking more like a teenager than an adult. “With the fight to recover from the Iron Surge and the fall of Russia still in progress, Coalition joint staff released a statement today declaring that forces have successfully pushed the Empire out of Coalition-led territory, and also the successful capture of a third nuclear stockpile.”

Reyes leaned in, feeling a tension begin to throb in his right leg as trained instinct was awakened. Where were they now? What would he see?

Footage of troop movement somewhere in Europe- southeastern, if he had to guess by the terrain. Footage of a city in ruins as friendly forces celebrated over a toppled statue of King Sombra that lay straddled across a broken street. It had been a while since he’d seen a success like this.

The news segment had continued on without him, now showing some war analyst talking over the story. “With this latest push against Imperial forces, it marks a new stage in the Coalition advance. It simply looks like the Empire is starting to run out of steam, and that the Iron Machine we’ve known for the past nearly two years can no longer sustain itself. With any luck, the majority of Imperial ground forces won’t be able to hold on any longer and we can head straight for the heart of the Empire itself.”

Reyes’ mind constructed a map- the continent covered by bits and pieces that displayed the colors of Coalition and Imperial forces sprawled across a single great line. They had finally been able to recover the territory they had lost against the Empire, putting them right back in the same place they had been at the start of his second tour. Maybe, with a little luck, the Coalition would be able to break through this time and start to bring an end to it all-

“Hey, come on now,” said a soft voice that broke him from his reverie. Marcos looked up to see Sunset powering off the TV. “You said you were going to lay off for a little while, remember?”

“We’re winning again,” he said with a flat voice. “We started moving back in, we’re pushing against them again.”

Sunset gave a sympathetic smile, settling down next to her husband. “I know it means a lot to you, and I know you worry about it a lot,” she said, “but right now it’s not really helping you. You get nervous and you can’t relax, and that’s what we’ve been trying to work on. So, at least for today, can- can we not talk about the war? Or listen to any of the news? We just cut off the rest of the world and do our own thing, can you try that for me?”

Marcos felt his insides squirm with guilt. She was right- as per usual, just as it had always been. It had been something he’d been instructed to do for now- Until you become more at ease, he had been told. He owed Sunset more commitment to getting better than this. “Yeah, sure,” he said. “Sorry, it was… it was just on. I’ll cool it.”

“Thanks.” She gave his leg a squeeze, getting back to her feet. “Shower’s open if you want it, I’ll get one later when I’m a bit more awake. I kinda want to relax for a bit.”

“Sure, thanks.” As Marcos walked down the hall he felt a sharp jolt course through his right leg, from the heel all the way up the calf, causing him to stop in his tracks. “Mmf.”

Sunset noticed his sudden halt. “Is it hurting again?”

Marcos lifted his leg slowly, checking to see if it would happen again. It’d given him trouble in the mornings before. “Just a bit, I think it’s good.”

“Do you want me to take a look at it?”

He set it back down on the ground, testing how it took his weight, feeling nothing but the muscles beneath. “Nah, it’s gone now. I’m good.”

The sun was higher in the sky, having crept beyond the horizon and up into the clear blue of a brilliant morning. The open southern air was crisp and comfortable; a tinge of coolness could still be felt, speaking for the remnants of winter that lingered. But with every passing day, the warmth of their southern home would creep in ever deeper, the humid air making its way into the world once more.

Sunset glanced out the passenger window and out into the wilderness, their home on-base well behind them. Their morning had gone relatively smoothly, the drained atmosphere that had been so prevalent between one another having lessened somewhat in the bright sun. She thought of the condition of their house as she watched the world go by: she’d done her best to make it look nice, but the gloom was pervasive, despite her best efforts. This was a good idea, she thought pleasantly, we both just need some time to relax. That’s all.

She looked over at her husband who was behind the wheel, his gaze flickering across the scenery rapidly, grip tight on the steering wheel. He was scanning, looking for something that was amiss. A habit formed from living in a world she couldn’t even imagine. Just give him the time he needs. I can’t make him break the habits he’s got, all it’s going to take is time.

“You could’ve let me drive, you know,” Sunset said to him, watching as his eyes flickered between her and the road. “I promise I haven’t forgotten, even if it’s been a while.”

A small smile formed on the side of Marcos’ face and the uneasy appearance he bore disappeared for a moment. “Nah, it’s nothing. Besides, you deserve a chance to relax for a little while.”

“I’m fine, it’s OK,” Sunset replied pleasantly, perking up somewhat. “I’m sleeping better, I’m feeling better- you don’t need to do anything.”

“But this is your day,” he replied. “And I know you’ve been looking forward to it, so… I won’t promise anything but I’ll do what I can to make sure you have a good time. I think you deserve that.”

He had taken his eyes off the road ahead, looking directly at her. He had meant every word and she knew it. “Thank you,” she said quietly, giving him a small but sincere smile.

Marcos turned back to the road, looking down at the clock on the radio- silent as per Sunset’s request. He felt a small bubble of pleasure welling inside him as he glanced over at his wife- she looked more awake now, the whisper of a smile still evident on her face. Maybe it would be a good day after all. It’s still gonna be a big step forward, he cautioned himself. Don’t get too optimistic yet, it’s going to be a long day ahead of us- unless you screw it up.

He felt his bubble of happiness pop and he gave a shake in consternation. No time or place for doubt, he decided. It wasn’t going to be THAT big of a deal.

Soon the scenery turned from farmlands and trees and into residential areas filled with classic architecture and beautiful, mossy trees hovering over cobblestone streets. The city was relatively quiet this Saturday morning, only a few people could be seen meandering down the streets. But the promise of a beautiful spring day was too enticing for most and the two doubted it would stay quiet for long.

“It’s going to be a great day to be out here,” Sunset remarked as she exited the car, settling her purse across her shoulder. “I mean, yeah it’s a little cool out still, but it’ll feel great once it hits noon or so.”

“Mm.” Marcos’ eyes were on his wife, studying her from head to toe. She looked lovely, he thought: her wavy hair draped over her shoulders, a simple grey long-sleeve over a pair of faded jeans. It might not have been anything special, but she was still beautiful. She’s always beautiful, he thought. You should tell her that.

“So I know we don’t really have any sort of plan,” Sunset said slowly.

Marcos felt his heart begin to pound. Come on, say something you fool-

“So I was thinking we could just spend our morning at the park before heading further downtown. That sounds alright, right?”

All you have to do is say something nice to your wife, hurry up already or else it’ll be too late! Marcos screamed silently.

Sunset stared at him, waiting for a response. “Umm, so how does that sound?” she repeated. “I’m up for any suggestions if there’s something you wanted to do…”

He shook his head and gave a defeated sigh, realizing his efforts were futile.

Sunset gave a smile and said, “Alright, then. It should be a good time, it’s a beautiful day, wonderful weather… it’ll be good to relax.

“Mm.” Marcos felt deflated, despite the positive start to the morning. A simple compliment was all you had to do, he thought despondently. It was so simple…

The park, surrounded and filled with pecan trees and willows, was a lovely sight in the spring as the multitude of buds and flowers across the green expanse began to open and flourish. The recent rains had aided in the growth, leaving the area lush and vibrant. As the couple walked through, they watched as the few who had taken advantage of the pleasant weather enjoying their time in the gardens. The glistening fountain nearby sprayed crystal-clear water into the air, sunlight giving the area the color of rainbows.

“We don’t really have to do much of anything for a while, really,” Sunset commented, taking a seat on a nearby bench and motioning for her husband to join her. “Come on, why don’t we relax, people-watch for a bit?”

Marcos hesitated before nodding and settling down beside her, allowing for ample space between them- something soon remedied by Sunset, who shuffled down and laid back against his side.

“Don’t give me that look,” she said defensively. “You know full well you’ll be swarmed by a bunch of girls if I don’t make it clear you’re mine.”

He couldn’t help but give a quick laugh, soft and quiet as the dawn. “Because that’s happened before,” he replied jokingly.

“Well, doesn’t hurt to take preventative measures,” she said proudly. “Just in case some southern belle gets any funny ideas.”

Marcos laughed again, feeling a weight begin to lift from within. He gave a rusty sigh and relaxed as he felt his wife’s comforting hearbeat against his own, settling in and watching the world go by. A young man and his dog playing fetch in the grass; an elderly couple who waved and said “good morning” as they hobbled along by; the various joggers and friends who came to work out and enjoy the air.

“You know, I haven’t asked you in a while, but how are you?” Sunset said. “How’ve you been? You’ve been kinda quiet this week.”

Marcos sat there in silence, wondering if he should say anything or not. Part of him wanted to stay silent, another wished for a lie. But the small part of him that loved his wife said otherwise. “I’m alright, I guess,” he said slowly. “Sorry for not saying much. I haven’t been feeling bad or anything, just…”

“Just didn’t have anything to say?” she guessed.

He looked at her and flashed a smile. “Yeah. Just working on it, y’know.”

“Yeah, I get it. Has it been hard?”

He shifted in his seat, pulling a face. “Eh… a little. Waking up and going to sleep is still difficult, but I slept through the night every night this week.”

“Hey, that’s good. You’ve looked better this week, too,” his wife said cheerfully.

The weight on his heart lessened further as she opened him up. While he had been in his therapy sessions, Sunset had dove into whatever knowledge and help she could find. The early days of it all had been stressful, but she had found her rhythm as time had droned ever on. She knew how to help him speak now, to comfort him.

And, in this particular instance, to help him be a husband again. “What about you?” he asked.

She looked at him. “What about me?”

“How are you holding up?”

Sunset sat there for a bit, rocking back and forth as she thought it over. “I’m OK,” she decided finally. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

“You sure?” he pressed gently, just as she had done to him many times before.

She gave a small look of surprise. “You really want to know?”

“Yeah. Of course,” he answered. “Is something bothering you?”

“Hmm? Oh, not really. Just the usual frustrations at work,” she replied smoothly. “You know I’ve told you what it’s like sometimes.”

“Mhm.” Sunset’s desire to work in physical therapy hadn’t anticipated a world war, leaving her to deal with many wounded and disfigured soldiers that had returned from overseas. An already difficult task now made more arduous by the thought that her husband could very well one day join them- or worse, the soldiers who had never returned.

“You gonna be alright?” he asked.

Sunset gave a tiny little nod. “Yeah. I’ll be OK. Some days are just harder than others,” she said.

Marcos nodded in assent, knowing the sentiment far too well. “You wanna talk about it?”

“I’m OK for now. But thank you.” She looked up at him. “You know you can always come to me for anything as well, right?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Just checking.”

Their time in the park came to an end, the rest of their journey too enticing to ignore. Leaving the lush gardens behind, the couple headed further into the city they had hardly ever explored.

“So, where to now?” he asked her, watching her settle in the seat beside him. “We didn’t really have an agenda, so I’ve got no objections to where he go next.”

Sunset mulled that question over for a few moments. “You know, I really don’t know,” she admitted. “I was wanting to go to River Street later, but I was hoping to be there during evening hours- you know, eat and relax there. But before that…”

“So whatever then?” he surmised. “Alright, wherever traffic takes us.”

The old car pulled out of its parking spot and went down the road, eventually rejoining the hustle and bustle of the city enjoying its weekend. Weaving in and out wherever they could, the couple meandered this way and that until they found themselves surrounded by cobblestone roads and rustic properties of an era long gone.

“I think it’s the historic district,” Sunset said, looking out at their surroundings. “I know it may not be all interesting to you, but…”

Marcos nodded but pulled over to look for a parking spot nevertheless, easily able to read the eager interest on his wife’s face. “Wherever we feel like going,” he said pleasantly.

The area here was more crowded than their morning at the park, the denizens of Savannah now mingling with tourists who had come to see the historic sights of the antiquated city. The sun now shone brilliantly in the blue skies, its rays streaking through the thick foliage above and onto the streets below. It was a lovely sight, serene and peaceful.

Marcos looked down at his wife. “Lead the way,” he said quietly. The two departed down the lane at a leisurely pace, heading towards the river as they passed by a nearby antebellum house-

The streets rang with the sound of machine gun fire, the instantly recognizable Crack! of a burst-fire weapon screaming in Reyes’ ears. He whipped around in a frenzy as he scanned the area for the position of the aggressor. The crunch of a sidewalk breaking apart joined in the chaotic racket as gunfire rattled the streets and he caught sight of a man in grey work-clothes wearing a neon vest… atop a jackhammer, standing next to a pair of men in construction hats.

A construction crew was opening up the sidewalk near the church on the opposite side of the streets, digging down to the wires and plumbing below. Reyes surveyed the trio of men, looking at them intently: one with a bristly beard that looked unkempt, darker hair beneath. The two men beside him were obviously locals, judging by their thick accents. His gaze scanned the entire street for signs of any foul play- a sniper in the window, an explosive buried beneath trash or a pile of leaves, someone that didn’t belong, anything-

“Hey, are you alright?” another voice cut into his established search, his eyes still raking the environment for anything suspicious. Reyes’ heart was pounding frantically inside his chest, his ribs practically clattering against the pressure. His head was pulsing, his breathing short and rapid-

“Hey, look at me,” said the voice again, someone gently grabbing his arm and pulling him aside. The grip on his arm disappeared, replaced by a soft pair of hands on his face. His brown eyes were led down to meet the cyan eyes of his wife’s, her gaze hard and focused. “Look at me,” she said once more. “Now breath in and out, gently. Relax…”

Danger! Stay alert! Concentrate! His instincts screamed, honed from years of warfare and violence that stemmed deep into his childhood. But fighting against them was the warmth and comfort she brought, the feeling of her touch against his skin…

“You’re alright, you’re alright, there’s nothing here that’s going to hurt you…”

Reyes could feel his heart still pounding, his head still pulsing, pleading for the warnings to not be ignored, to not be suckered in and torn away. Lives could be lost if he didn’t concentrate- no, lives would not be lost…

“That’s right, look at me. Don’t let go, OK? Keep breathing normally, you’re fine.”

The pulsing and pounding faded away, the screams and echoes of gunfire faded, becoming background noise to the gentle pattering of civilization, of the warm southern breeze brushing past his ears, the reality of where he truly was coming back to him…

Marcos closed his eyes and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly just as he had been taught. His mind refocused, disappearing from the war-torn cities he had known: He was in Savannah, in his home country, beside his wife who cared for him. He was not in danger, there was no machine gun, no threat. He was safe.

“Are you alright?” Sunset asked, looking up at him with concern, her hands still upon his face.

“I’m OK,” he said, his voice remaining shaky. He tried again, his voice clearer as he spoke once more, “I’m fine. I’m alright.”

“What happened?” The sound of the jackhammer met his ears once more and he looked out into the bustling streets at the workers. Sunset followed her husband’s gaze and caught sight of the trio of men. “Just simple repair work. You’re safe, I’m safe, there’s nothing dangerous here,” she said soothingly.

Marcos nodded slowly, squeezing his wife’s hand in a rhythmic pattern, his heart finally relaxing its assault against his ribs. “I know, I know,” he said, looking shamefaced. “I’m sorry.”

“You’ve nothing to be sorry about,” Sunset replied. “You feel better?”

He looked around at the passersby, wondering if their gaze ever flickered towards him. “Did anyone notice?”

“Just you and me,” Sunset answered. “Do you want to relax for a bit, or just head back home?”

“Home..?” The idea of quitting now was appalling to him. It would be a huge step back in his progress. “No, I’m alright,” he said firmly. “Just- just gimme a bit and we can keep going. I’ll be fine.”

The two waited in silence, relaxing underneath a small sapling as they watched the world go by, Marcos still latched onto his wife’s hand. Slowly, subtly, he felt her hand move from within his, her fingers intertwining with his and giving a squeeze of her own. “Proud of you,” she whispered.

The afternoon continued on smoothly, albeit in relative silence after their small incident. The historic district offered them a leisurely stroll through beautiful surroundings, the glorious weather of the spring day helping to ease the remaining tension. Through ancient churches and pre-Civil War architecture they went, the serene atmosphere helping Marcos’ and Sunset’s anxieties fade away into the past- where it belonged, she thought. The quiet pair continued on through the afternoon and beyond until the sun fell further and further into the sky, the horizon tinged pink and orange as night came creeping inwards.

Sunset heard a strange gurgling sound from somewhere beside her, and she turned to see her husband cradling his stomach with a displeased expression on his face. She couldn’t help but giggle at his obvious unhappiness, surveying him with pity. “Fine, we can go find someplace to eat, I’m feeling kind of hungry myself. Come on, we’ll head to River Street.”

Marcos gave a sweet sigh of relief and perked up immediately, looking eager at the prospect of a welcome meal. “Any idea of where you wanna go?”

Sunset came to a halt. “Um… we’ll find out, I guess,” she replied. “Let’s go see.”

The activity around them had only increased in the evening hours, even more so as they reached the riverfront. Throngs of people gathered here, moving this way and that as they tried to find a suitable restaurant for themselves, or simply to find a place to relax and enjoy the view.

“It’s a bit more than I expected,” Sunset remarked uncertainly, her eyes settling on the nearest restaurant to them. “How about this one?”

Marcos surveyed the building, taking note of its fancier, more elegant air. “Looks expensive,” he remarked.

“I’ll ask for a menu real quick,” she said, leaving him behind and heading inside.

Marcos shifted uncomfortably where he stood, feeling exposed without a partner beside him. The lesson had been drilled into him continuously since his first days of training: always have a buddy wherever you go. Whether it was the midst of a warzone or not, he had stuck to that rule as best he could. No, without the one he trusted most, every face he saw hid a threat against him, the potential to wreak unimaginable havoc. He could feel his heart begin to shudder again, the tremblings of fear taking over-

He gave himself a rough shake, trying to relax. “I’m OK, I am safe, I will be alright,” he said, repeating the words over and over. “This isn’t Toruń, it’s not Gronowo. I’m gonna be fine.” He felt his heart slow, his anxiety replaced by a small glow of pride. He could do this after all.

Sunset appeared from within and walked back over to him, looking rather shell-shocked. “Wow,” was all she could mutter.

“So can we not afford-”

“No. Let’s move on.”

Marcos felt his stomach gurgle once more, but accepted defeat and moved onwards down the street. They surveyed the assorted cafés, taverns, and diners that lined the street. Some sparked little interest in either of them, a few were far too crowded for their patience to take. As each minute ticked by he found himself becoming more and more anxious for his next meal, even Sunset beginning to show some interest in food.

“How about this one? It looks like we won’t have to wait too long,” she suggested.

Marcos surveyed the small restaurant known as The River House, his stomach immediately rumbling with pleasure. “Looks good to me,” he agreed.

They found themselves in a roomy, brick-wall affair, lined with booths and tables of assorted sizes. A server took note of their entry and immediately walked over. “Welcome, just the two of you?” He was a man about Marcos’ age, bearing a soul patch and spiky black hair.

“Yeah,” Marcos nodded.

“Excellent, a two-seater just opened up, come on in,” the young man replied, picking up a pair of menus and guiding them over. “Y’all know what you’d like to drink, or do you need a minute?”

“I think we’ll need a bit,” Sunset said, taking her seat across from her husband.

The two fell silent as they looked over their menus for a time, letting the sounds of clinking silverware and the chatter of their fellow guests take over. It was noisy in such a small space, but to Marcos it was strangely comforting: a reminder that even in the midst of a war, life still went on.

“Why did it take us so long to do this?” Sunset said.

Marcos peered over at her, setting down his menu. “What’s up?”

Sunset let her menu fall to the table, a look of distress overtaking her. “Why are we just now trying to get back to where we were? Before you left the second time, I mean.”

Marcos felt unease begin to well within him, watching her emotions begin to roil beneath the surface. “Sunset, not now…”

“I know, I know, I’m- I’ve been trying to take it slow, I promise,” she said in a rush, tears starting to form in her eyes. “It’s just- you’ve been through so much and when you got back, and I didn’t know what to do. I… I’m sorry that I didn’t understand what was going on right from the beginning, that I didn’t see how hurt you already were. I should’ve known better, and… I’m sorry.”

Their waiter moved towards their table and hesitated at the sight of Sunset hunching over her seat, taking a quick glance at the two and shuffling quietly away. Marcos sat there quietly as he watched his wife take a deep sniff and try to recover from her momentary outburst.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Sunset said thickly, wiping at her eyes. “Really, I’m fine. I- we were trying to make this a pleasant day. I guessed I messed that up, didn’t I?”

“Sunset…” Marcos reached out with his hand and found hers, a gesture of comfort he hadn’t performed in months. She gave a start at the sensation, looking up at him in surprise. “It’s OK. I- I messed up, too. I should be thanking you more- you’ve been putting in a lot of effort to get the both of us back on our feet and I should’ve said something about it… and I should’ve been helping you, too. So I appreciate what you’ve been doing.”

Sunset looked at him with wide eyes that spoke of shock, the expression quickly changing to one of happiness. “You really mean it,” she said. “Thanks… thanks, it means a lot.”

“You feel better?”

Sunset gave herself a quick shake and nodded. “Yeah, I’m OK. And a little hungry, too.”

“Good, because I’m more than ready to take your order,” said their waiter, suddenly appearing at their table. “What can I get y’all?”

“Oh, umm…” Sunset hurriedly scanned through before deciding on a small fish platter, Marcos following suit. As their waiter left to gather their drinks, the two leaned back and rested, feeling a bit more at ease.

“I think this’ll be pretty good,” she remarked, looking around at the restaurant and their fellow patrons. “It looks real nice.”

“Yeah, hopefully…” Marcos’ gaze drifted around as he too surveyed his surroundings- and immediately becoming stock-still.

Sunset noticed his sudden rigidity. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I think- holy jeez it is- hold on,” he said suddenly, leaping up from the table and rushing outside.

Sunset turned about to see him depart through the door, racing out towards a disheveled man with grungy clothes in a wheelchair. The two men exchanged hurried words, Marcos wide-eyed and obviously concerned for the crippled man’s wellbeing, who seemed highly uncomfortable through it all. Her husband motioned towards the restaurant door, perhaps offering him a place- but the unkempt man shook his head in denial, obviously eager to depart. Wheeling himself away as fast as he could, the man soon disappeared out of sight, leaving a disappointed Marcos in his wake.

“Marc… who was that?” Sunset asked as her husband returned, watching him sink into his seat in despair. “Are you alright, what’s wrong- no, not Collie-”

“Yes,” he replied. “That was him.”

“But- but what happened to him? He was getting treatment, wasn’t he?”

Marcos nodded. “He was supposed to keep up with me, too. Wasn’t doing that, either.”

“Is… is he well?”

“No. He’s not.”

The young couple sat there in defeated silence as the clatter and talk of the restaurant filled the void, their momentary bubble of happiness having been irreversibly destroyed. The setting sun was faded, and the blackness of the night was steadily creeping in.

Their day was over.

The evening was crystalline as they returned to their home, the lights of Savannah far behind them as they journeyed across the interstate back to the installation. Marcos found himself behind the wheel yet again, his wife resting silently in the seat beside him as the night sky glittered overhead.

“You still awake?” he asked her.

“Yeah.”

A sleepy response, he noticed. He took a small breath, hoping he had chosen his words wisely. “I know it scared you,” he said. “Seeing Collie like that.”

Sunset remained quiet, watching the countryside pass them by.

“We did everything we could to help him when it first started,” Marcos continued. “Mac tried to talk with him, First Sergeant did, even Captain Armor brought him in. We all tried to get him out of it.”

“But it didn’t matter,” she said, turning to look at him. “He’s lost everything, and now look at him.”

Marcos shook his head miserably, the sight of his old friend- once strong, brash and confident, now reduced to a wheelchair and misery. “We all had a chance to get better. I don’t know why he didn’t take it.”

“I’m just… you’re still not back yet,” Sunset said. “You’ve come so far, but we’ve both still got such a long way to go, and anything can go wrong. That could still be you someday, wandering down the street with no hope, no happiness-”

“It won’t be,” Marcos replied, the resolve in his voice surprising even himself. “I promised you I was going to do what it takes to get better. “Maybe I haven’t made it there yet, but I’ll come back. I mean that.”

Sunset closed her eyes, an expression of longing on her face. “You took another step today. At least we have that.”

“Yeah. We do.”

“Promise me you’ll keep trying.”

“Of course I will.”

The two drove on in silence, moving on as the lights of the main gate came ever closer.

Author's Notes:

The hardest part of a soldier's life is not always the firefights. The blood and violence, though great and terrible, can often become background noise, or simply "what life is." Spend too long in the battlefield, and soon enough the battlefield is all that you can remember.

The hardest part? Oftentimes, the hardest part is leaving it behind. To let the silence sink in, and for that to be OK. To drop your guard and let yourself breathe once more. After all, when everyday you've spent was in mortal danger, it can be hard to believe that you're truly safe.