𝕊𝕋𝕆ℝ𝕀𝔼𝕊 𝔽ℝ𝕆𝕄 𝔸 𝕎𝕆ℝ𝔻 ～ 𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘔𝘤𝘈𝘷𝘰𝘺

33 - [RT] Necropolis

N E C R O P O L I S
noun [nuh-krop-uh-lis, ne-]

A cemetery, especially one of a large size and usually of an ancient city.

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"Can we go to the lake that people in town claim is a suburban myth?" You raised your eyebrows and smirked.

"But if it in actuality is a mere myth, it will not exist," Robbie challenged.

"Yes I understand that but what if it really does exist? We can be the first ones to find it!" You said and Robbie stroked his chin.

"You're feeling rather... adventurous," He chuckled and you shrugged your shoulders, "I tell you what. Why don't we just pass along that road on our trip, take a peak then continue on our journey?"

"Really? You'd do that?"

"Yes, if it means so much to you."

You kissed his cheek and rolled your eyes, "I'm just curious Robbie, that is the only thing that means much to me."

You walked towards your bedroom to pack your things, but Robbie called out to you. "Sweetheart, where did you keep that um... s-souveneir I brought back with m-me from my time served?" He asked nervously and you hurried back to him.

"Why? Are you well?" You examined his face then touched his forehead, "Why don't you lie do-"

"I'm alright [y/n], it's just... we are going on the trip and... just in case," He smiled slightly and you nodded your head.

You kissed his cheek, "It's in the chest Robbie, in your little box." He smiled and went over to it.

You walked back to your bedroom and stood inside by the door, furrowing your eyebrows and staring at the floor with concern.

Robbie served his time in the war and it... changed him. When he returned he didn't connect with you well regardless of both of you being together romantically. You had got married to him before he had left.

Robbie was a changed man. He had nightmares almost every night, he refused to talk to anyone other than you... even meet anyone else. He'd continue to say how lucky he was to have you in his life. As every day passed your worry for his health increased, with no sense of serenity in sight. He is far better now than he was when he had returned but still, anything could trigger another episode.

*****

"

If you could go wherever you wanted to, where would you choose?" Robbie asked and you clinged onto his arm tightly.

You smiled, "Well I would love to see every corner of this country we live in."

"Really? That's interesting, what if we go somewhere new every holiday?" He suggested and you kissed his cheek.

"Oh that would be splendid!" You stopped suddenly and pulled his arm, "Let's have something to eat. We can sit here."

Robbie took the bag of snacks from your hands then crossed the path to the other side where there was grass. You were about to sit down but Robbie continued to walk ahead.

"Robbie, dear?" You called out to him, "What's wrong?"

He disappeared amongst the trees And you ran after him. "Robbie, what are you doing?!" You felt yourself get a little annoyed.

He started to slow down, coming to a gradual halt. You hastened towards him then touched his arm, "Robbie you seem-"

"Could I be alone [y/n], for a moment?" He mumbled and you watched him with heartbreak. He stepped ahead and you let go of his hand.

He reached an empty ground with stones and sticks mimicking posts and markers. You approached him cautiously without him knowing.

Robbie stared at the land ahead blankly, despair growing in his heart and disconnect blooming in his mind.

You stood right behind him and watched. There were memorials scattered across, graves of people long passed. You squinted your eyes to help recognise the names on the graves but-

"This is where they're buried [y/n], I knew do many of them in the war," He explained faintly, "I-I... they were close friends of mine, enough to be f-family."

He walked ahead and touched a couple of the gravestones, staring at the ground with melancholy.

"Y-You know i-i-if it wasn't for that recruitment on the day of th-the explosion... I'd be dead [y/n]," Robbie stuttered, "I'd be s-six feet under along with all these people who haven't had a chance to live their lives the way I am right now."

You heard him sniff softly then reach up to wipe his cheek. You looked at his face and noticed him crying... You frowned then side-hugged him. You stroked his back slowly to console him. Robbie shook his head, "I don't think I deserve to be here-"

You snatched yourself away from him and stepped to the side. "Don't you DARE say that Robbie, after all you did in the war and all you want through, you d-deserve to live!" You said in a rush and he looked up to the sky with grief.

"N-No I don't [y/n]!"

"Robbie what's got into you?! You did so much and you continue doing whatever you can every day, whether it's helping people in the market or just... living with me and making sure that I feel my best," You held his cheeks in your hands and shook your head, "Don't beat yourself Robbie please, you deserve so much more. Along with you, these men were serving their country and they will be remembered and honoured for that. Because of them... and because of the countless that are still alive, normal people can live in harmony. We all owe soldiers our lives."

He held your hands and shut his eyes. He kissed your forehead then collapsed onto a tree trunk laying on the ground. His shoulders slumped over as he sat down, not saying a single word of comment.

You took a moment before sitting beside him. You rested your head on his shoulder then sighed. He held your hand tightly then kissed its top.

He removed the war souveneir from around his neck on a chain. It was a bullet from the gun he had use most of his time. He told you that he had kept it to remind himself that if at any time he feels like he's growing too full of himself, a bullet would bring him back to reality... as something that could end the happiness of his life in an instant.

Robbie clenched it in his fist and then kissed his knuckles. He took a deep breath then threw the bullet to the dense side of the trees where the last few graves lay lined. A moment of silence followed...

"Did I tell you about the time we all were hiding in this shelter and we started playing that old song game?" He chuckled and you smiled at his slight display of happiness.

"Not at all," You hugged his arm lovingly, "Do tell, it sounds interesting!"