The first ever memory he gained of you was the day Steve got him to try out some new diner with a big dance floor. His eyes landed on you the moment the door swung open, your heels clicking in rhythm as your skirt swayed effortlessly with your body. Safe to say you were the first and last girl to catch and hold James 'Bucky' Barnes's attention and love. He can still remember the gleam in your smile as you practically skipped over to introduce yourself. Somehow you got the courage to ask for a dance with this handsome stranger, and your voice was the sweetest thing Bucky had ever experienced. Throughout your relationship with Bucky, dancing had been a constant — each date night would include you both swaying in each other's arms or even simply late at night barely rocking to the old record humming in his apartment.

The dewy grass under his hand brought him back into his cruel reality. How long had he been in the cloud of his mind? The light pink sunset had turned back into a dark night. The moon and stars twinkling above — the type of twinkle that would stop you in your tracks to turn your gaze to the sky. 

Would you even love him through this? You had once told him you'd love him through the war as you lay skin to skin with him. Was this the war you were talking about? 

The horses' neighs became more pronounced as Bucky observed; you had once told him that you would want to come back as one. He thought it was weird, but you just said, "Horses are loyal; they'll do anything for you, but they will make their thoughts clear, especially if they don't like something, Buck," as you led him by his hand towards the paddock you used to have. He knows you would've loved the horses Wakanda has, especially the mare that's sassy with everyone apart from Bucky when he strolls down to see her. The love you showed Bucky and the love you made him show will forever linger in him, like a chained-up prisoner that can't help but laugh in pity at themselves. 

The worst part of this ghastly situation is that Bucky didn't even know what happened to you after he got shipped out for war. Did you wait like a loyal dog at the train station at which he left after your last passionate kiss, or did you find a way to move on? Bucky couldn't stay on those thoughts; each stung him to think about. All he hoped is that you found some sort of happiness during a peaceful death; after all, Bucky promised to provide you with eternal happiness for each breath he takes. 

Tears pricked his eyes suddenly, reminding him of the red roses he said he'd bring back when he returns home. Now you got to experience the beauty of the afterlife while Bucky's subjected to whatever punishment the universe deemed you too good for. At least it was him and not you, right?

His left shoulder ached in the moonlight — his karma for being so foolish as to ship off to war without you. The woven scarf on his shoulder desperately trying to hide the pain from others. Not even the part of him that held his symbol of forever was with him. 

Maybe you died the moment he lost his left arm along with the silver band that held his finger tightly. But then again, maybe you both will reunite in the afterlife if you keep your wedding rings on because even with his memories hazy, Bucky Barnes knows he'd never break his forever promise. 

At last the white wolf cowered back into his dim hut. Nothing physical could represent who he was; that was the thing he had you for. And so the white wolf resided on the small bed he was gifted; he thought if he was back to being Bucky Barnes, sergeant of the 107th, then maybe the universe wouldn't be so cruel as to strip you away.