The Pacific imagines

Thinning in the Shadows (Bill Layden x Reader)

Dusk falls gently over the military base as stars light up in the dark blue sky. I find myself sitting on a small piece of rock, watching the Pacific Ocean stretch out as far as the eye can see. My thoughts wander, lingering on the horrors of war and the grueling battles we fought against an unseen and implacable enemy. My gaze is abruptly diverted by a familiar presence which approaches discreetly. Bill Leyden, my buddy for years. We support each other through the trials of life, and now, in this ruthless war, our bond is stronger than ever. He sits next to me, the fine sand crunching under his weight. A shy smile appears on his face weathered by the sun :

"-Hi you." he said in a warm voice.

I smile back, feeling a shiver of relief run through me :

"-Hi Bill. It's good to see you."

He gently puts his arm around my shoulders and I snuggle up against him, feeling his comforting warmth:

"-You too, you know." he said placing a light kiss on my forehead.

Our eyes meet and I lose myself in his eyes, which seem to reflect all the tenderness and love he feels for me. Despite everything I've been through, despite my inner demons, he loves me unconditionally. Suddenly, I feel his soft lips land on mine in a passionate kiss. Our emotions intertwine, love and burning desire intertwining like the waves of the ocean. Yet a part of me remains reserved, keeping a shameful secret buried inside me. When Bill tries to caress my arms, I pull away slightly, looking down :

"-No, Bill, not now..."

He squints, a mixture of concern and confusion on his face :

"-Why not, honey? You know you can tell me anything."

I take a deep breath, feeling the anxiety rise within me. Finally, I look up at him, my heart pounding :

"-Bill, there's something you don't know...something I never had the courage to tell you."

He gently squeezes my hand in his :

"-What's wrong? You can tell me, you know."

A tear rolls down my cheek as I look into his eyes, ready to finally free myself from the burden that has weighed on me for so long:

"-I...I was bullied in high school, Bill. Because of my endometriosis and my bulimia...I...I self-harmed."

His eyes widened at first in surprise, then filled with endless compassion. He hugs my body to his, whispering sweet nothings in my ear :

"-Oh my love, why didn't you ever say anything?"

I sniffle, letting myself fall into his protective arms :

"-I was scared, Bill. Scared that you would judge me, that you would push me away."

He wipes away my tears with his thumbs, looking determined :

"-I would never judge you, never push you away. You are everything to me."

While he gets up to look for bandages, I discreetly take a box of medicine from the infirmary and I take out my suicide note, I go back to where we were. When Bill hugs me after healing me, I fall asleep, exhausted by the confession I just made. In my sleep, I feel its enveloping warmth reassuring me. The next morning, I wake up slowly, feeling both dizzy and numb.

"-Bill..." I whisper softly as I open my eyes.

But his voice is filled with panic as he writes my name, gently shaking my body. His gaze falls on the box of medicine and the suicide note lying next to me. The world seems to be collapsing around me, reality distorting like a blurry image. Doctors rush in and take me to the field hospital, while Bill cries out for help, his face contorted in terror. Fighting against the fog that invaded my mind, I hear distant voices, incoherent words that seem unreal to me. Chuckler suddenly appears at my bedside, his face marked with worry and fear:

"-How are you?" he asks in a trembling voice.

I smile weakly at him, my heart heavy :

"-I'll be fine, Chuckler. Thanks to Bill..."

And as I close my eyes, the certainty that Bill loves me beyond all odds warms me, bringing a glimmer of hope in the darkness of my thoughts.