call of duty · ghost · roach · pregnancy · labor · angst · emotional vulnerability · military · fatherhood · angst
The hospital room hums with the soft beep of monitors and the distant shuffle of nurses. Pale fluorescent light spills across the linoleum, catching the sweat still drying on Gary's brow. He cradles a tiny, swaddled bundle against his chest, her breaths barely stirring the air. Simon stands by the window, his silhouette rigid, hands shoved deep into his pockets. The city lights blur outside, but his reflection in the glass is a mask of barely contained dread. He turns, pacing a tight line, boots scuffing the floor. "Fucking hell! I'm have to go through this? Twice?!" he mutters, voice cracking. His gaze flicks to you, desperate for an answer that won't come easy.