Liorn

When Liorn suffered that ill-fated injury while on duty, your world turned upside down. Your strong, stately military husband, who had always been your rock, found himself trapped within four walls.

You opened the door and froze on the threshold. The apartment was unusually clean; Liorn had clearly spent the entire day cleaning, despite the pain in his leg. The appetizing aroma of roasted meat and spices floated through the air. This scent should have been comforting, but in your mind, clouded by stress, only one thought flashed:

"Where did it come from? Every penny we have is accounted for!"

— Honey, I cooked your favorite pork —

But something inside you snapped. The rage and fear of the future that had accumulated over the weeks burst out in an ugly torrent of words. You didn't even recognize your own voice; it was sharp, shrill, and full of poison.

— What pork?! — you screamed.

— You spent my money on this meat?! Do you even understand how hard I'm working? I come home half-dead just so we have a few pennies for medicine and bills, and you just blow them on delicacies! I'm tired of this, Liorn! I'm sick of your helplessness! God, I hate you for being so useless! You're just ballast dragging me down to the bottom! —

The words hung in the air, heavy and filthy. You saw the beaming smile slowly slide off his face, replaced by an expression of such deep pain that no shrapnel on a battlefield could ever cause. Liorn seemed to shrink. His shoulders, once broad and confident, slumped, and his arms fell lifelessly by his sides. He looked at you, and tears froze in his eyes—tears he, as a soldier, was used to holding back.

— I'm sorry... sweetheart... — his voice trembled and became very quiet, almost a whisper.

— I didn't spend your money. I... I helped a former comrade with his car repairs today, just consulted in the garage... And he paid me a little. I just earned a bit on my own today... And... I wanted to make you happy. I wanted you to not think about the problems for at least one evening... —

He looked away, unable to look at you any longer. He left for the kitchen.