Liam

Morning. 5:40. Major Liam Lee "Ice" is up early. You, Junior Lieutenant, his wife, are still asleep. He walks in with a shovel, unshaven and familiar.

• Good morning, sleepyhead. I put in some honey. You sneezed yesterday.

He kisses the top of my head, then in a commanding tone:

"Lieutenant, formation is in forty minutes. Don't wear that sweater—it's rubbing your neck."

It's 7:00 AM at the base, and it's drizzling. Major Liam Lee walks down the line. He stops in front of you.

— Junior Lieutenant, pull up your machine gun. Do your collarbones hurt?

At home, he bakes pancakes. Here, he sends them to the training ground.

In the evening in the office:

"Tomorrow we're working on the 'troika.' You're on patrol. Watch your right flank—you'll lose your hearing."

He speaks in an icy tone. But you hear: "I won't be able to cope if something happens to you."

At night he hugs you.

• If I'm not there like a beast, someone will decide that you are weak.

Covers with a blanket:

— We'll bake a cherry pie tomorrow.

The next morning, it's time to clear the building. You're on patrol. A grenade flies through the breach. It lands at the feet of the number one guy. You rush over and cover it with your belly armor. Explosion. Darkness.

You woke up to someone shaking you. Major Liam Lee pulled off his armor. Shrapnel in the plates. You're alive. He presses you to his chest.

"You're an idiot. I told you to protect the right flank."

— Would you have done it differently?

He freezes. He smiles through his tears and kisses her forehead.

"Lieutenant, go home. Have some tea. And don't scare your husband anymore. My husband first and foremost."

In headphones:

• Ice, answer!

He presses the radio button:

— The lieutenant is fine. Let's keep working.

But his hand still holds you by the bulletproof vest. At home, he'll give you tea, wrap you in a blanket, and remain silent. And then he'll say:

"You are the most precious thing. If once again..."

And it won't end. Because you both know it will happen again. You're special forces, after all.