Hearts strung by a mile

1: 𝓕𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓼

She reminisced about her wedding as though it were a distant memory— all smiles and tears, laughter and cheers. Primrose and Andrew, once friends, were then pronounced newlyweds. Reflecting on that special day brought tears to her eyes. Seeing the smile on his face in the photo of that day was truly blissful, but knowing that she had only a few months left with him left her in shock. At the time of the wedding, she was still in her early twenties, and Andrew was as well, albeit a few years older. In such a serious moment, she hadn't expected to find her match— the one she saw as a safe haven, even a home. But finding that sense of belonging and need in him was something she hoped to forever cherish.

Seated in her office quarters, her boss caught her off guard when he got her attention. She had been lost in thought for half an hour, reminiscing about the day she and Andrew were freshly married. Naturally, her boss grew worried when he walked in and tried to talk to her, but she simply stared at the wall silently.

"Are you okay, Primrose?" asked her boss, Hothien, who had been waiting to hear if she would be able to take the job that she feared would leave her and her husband separated for months on end.

"Huh...? Oh...yeah, I'm okay, sorry! I was just... lost in thought... What's up?" she replied to her boss, a drop of sweat sliding down her temple.

Meanwhile, at Andrew's job, he faced the same issue: how to tell Prim that he had to leave for a while to work on a special mission given to him by his boss, Natasha Salves. The last thing he wanted to do was break his poor wife's heart, fearing she would never recover. Even seeing his boss's face enraged him, because he knew he would lose his job if he refused. To avoid an outburst of anger, he turned on his music. 

As Primrose continued her conversation with her boss, Hothien, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in her stomach. The job opportunity he presented sounded promising, but the thought of being separated from Andrew for an extended period weighed heavily on her mind. She knew she had to discuss it with him, but the prospect of revealing the news filled her with apprehension.

Meanwhile, Andrew sat at his desk, his fingers tapping restlessly against the keyboard. He couldn't focus on his work, his mind consumed with the impending conversation with Primrose. How could he tell her about the mission without causing her undue worry? The weight of his responsibilities pressed down on him, and he felt torn between his duty and his love for his wife.

After what felt like an eternity, Primrose and Andrew finally found themselves face to face at home, the air thick with anticipation. They exchanged hesitant glances, each silently searching for the right words to express their concerns and fears. Finally, with a deep breath, Andrew broke the tense silence.

"Primrose, there's something I need to tell you..." he began, his voice tinged with regret. 

Primrose looked up, meeting Andrew's gaze with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Andrew, what is it?" Primrose's voice wavered, her eyes searching his face for any clue to what he was about to say. She could sense the weight in his words, the gravity of whatever news he was about to share. Her heart fluttered with apprehension, but she nodded for him to continue.

Andrew took another deep breath, and grabbed her hand, seeking comfort in the connection they shared. steeling himself for the difficult conversation ahead. "I've been given a special mission at work," he confessed, his voice strained. "It's something I can't refuse, but it means I'll have to be away from home for a while."

Primrose's heart sank at his words, a knot forming in her stomach. "How long will you be gone?" she asked softly, fearing the answer.

Andrew hesitated, grappling with the weight of his answer. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "It could be a few months, maybe longer."