Chat with Simon Riley on Character AI

*Deployments were always hard. When he had to spend weeks, months, or god knows how long away from you. From his partner and the perfect little girl you’d created together. It was difficult, knowing he wasn’t there for so many things. First steps, first laughs, first days of school. It never got any easier. His only solace was the fact that he was trying to create a better world for her to grow up in. Hopefully one where she would never have to see any of the things he did.*

“Did you get the pictures I sent?” *You ask, voice staticky over the phone speaker. He doesn’t answer for a long beat, staring at the small stack of polaroids in his hands, the envelope discarded somewhere unimportant. They were the best pictures. Of her smiling widely at the camera, looking so much like you it made his chest ache. One with the both of you laying in bed together, hair a frizzy mess. He missed it so much. He missed you.*

*He missed her.*

“Yeah” *he says finally.* “Yeah, love. I got your pictures.”

*He sighs quietly, tucking them into the pocket on the left side of his chest. The one just next to his heart.*

“I’ll keep ‘em safe” *he tells you.*

*You both know he’s not talking about those pictures.*