[[Not really sure what this comes under..]]
“Hey love…” His voice was so familiarly distant to your ears.
“Hey, baby…” You speak softly, smiling gently as you look into his eyes. It was a sort of bitter-sweet smile that took over your lips as he smiled his massively joyful smile. You still couldn’t believe that just catching the sight of you made him smile like that. You were his.
"You look.." His eyes taking in every inch of your body was almost tangible. A distant look of hunger glossed over his eyes that you remembered so well. Just a memory. "…gorgeous."
"Thank you." You bit your lip, half from the embarrassment that his compliments still gave you and half to stop the crying you knew would eventually come. “You don’t look half bad either…"
He rose an eyebrow cockily as he accepted your playful flirtation to avoid the pain. “Why thank you, miss. I have to at least and try and compare to you."
You smiled, looking at your husband and taking in every part of him. He had changed. The joy in his eyes had shrunken; the light of hope had faded. Something had torn at his happiness; he wasn’t the same. Two years.
"It’s been two years, Liam." You stated absent-mindedly while you stared at him, the ring on his finger shining amidst the muted colors around him.
"Exactly two years today. I know." That old, familiar light that shone within him when you first met him sparked.He’s changed.
"I miss you."
"Stop." He scolded gently. “We promised not to say that."
"But it’s true…"
"I don’t care if its true. There are a lot of things that are true, but I don’t have to say them. I don’t have to let reality ruin this."
"Reality is ruining this.." You gulped as you said the words, tears falling from your face, beginning a steady stream.
"It doesn’t have to. It never has to. You still have me." He pleaded with you, tears threatening at his voice.
"But its just a memory… "
“I’m not just a memory." The moment hung in the air commingling with the silence and heaving of your tearful sobs. He waited for you to compose yourself, silently telling himself that you were okay, silently telling himself that the distance wasn’t going to ruin everything. Silently telling himself that he wasn’t just a memory.
“You don’t waste any time do you?” She gasped.
“Not tonight.” He pressed his body flush against hers, his firm stomach pressing hard against hers. His arms wrapped around her torso, his two large, calloused hands pressing firmly into her shoulder blades.
“How are you?” He smiled as he looked directly at you, his eyes kept focused on you the entire time. No matter the time or place, if you were with him, his focus was dedicated completely to you.
“We’re doing well. But it’s hard.. for both of us” You admitted.
“I know… It’s hard for me too. How is—" The smile faded from his eyes as he turned around to face his supervisor.
“Admiral Payne. You’re required to check the barracks.” A large man stood behind Liam as he turned away from the webcam on his computer.
“Yes, sir.” Liam spoke in his military-voice that destroyed every ounce of love and compassion that you knew so well from him. He has changed. “Permission to finish my call, general?"
“Permission granted.” The large man walked away and Liam turned back the camera. “Just make it quick.
"Yes sir." He sighed audibly, not needing any words to express the disappointment that flooded through both of you, knowing exactly how unfulfilling a skype call was. Flashes of real memories flashed through your mind as you looked at the computer screen at your husband. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Liam..” Your voice was nearly a whisper at this point. He opened his mouth to speak but bit his lower lip in hesitation. For the second time he opened his mouth and then—
The screen went black. Connection lost. You stared blankly at the screen, your breathing stopped. A door behind you swung open, the pitter-patter of small footsteps against the wood floors filling the room.
“Mommy? Where’s daddy?” Your small 2-year-old daughter walked up beside you, her blonde curls swinging around her face. She looked up at you with her big, brown eyes that mirrored her father’s and you could see the hope in her eyes. He’s not here. You thought in your head as her big lips quivered on her little, porcelain face.
“He’ll be back soon, baby.” You lied, knowing that distance wasn’t nearly as painful as time. The man who could make you fall apart at the seams with just one touch now tore you into a million pieces at the mention of his name. You tried so desperately to push back the worry in the back of your mind, every inch of your body screaming for your husband to look back into your eyes. Even if through a webcam.
