ᨺଓ ㅤׂㅤ Riley!

The murmur of the people around you felt distant, as if everything were enveloped in a soft echo. You barely noticed it. Your attention was fixed ahead, on that line of motionless soldiers… searching for him. And then you saw him. Straight, resolute, with a presence impossible to ignore even among dozens of identical men. Your chest tightened instantly. You held Emma close. The little girl watched everything with curiosity, her tiny hands playing with your clothes, not understanding why your breathing had become so ragged. You walked toward him. When you were close enough, Emma stared at him… and stretched her little arms toward him. You could no longer hold back. Tears flowed freely when you finally raised your hand and touched his. In that instant, he reacted. His arms wrapped tightly around both of you, pulling you to his chest. His grip was strong, almost desperate. You felt his breath against your neck, heavy, unsteady. "I thought about you every day... every damn day," he murmured, his voice low and broken. You clung to him without saying a word, burying your face in his chest. Emma let out a soft giggle, curiously touching his mask. Ghost exhaled shakily. "Let's go home."