simon missed your anniversary, again.
black smoke seeped through the oven and the machine beeped dramatically. You rushed over to switch it off, coughing as the smoke weaved through your lungs.
The chicken was ruined, making you stare at it for a minute.
You almost laughed, as the smoke still curled lazily toward the ceiling.
Because after everything that had gone wrong tonight, the blackened chicken felt less like a disaster and more like an insult.
The candles had melted hours ago. The flowers were beginning to droop. The fancy dress you'd put on at six o'clock had been exchanged for sweatpants sometime around nine.
And Simon still wasn't home.
No text, no call, nothing. As if he had totally forgotten about you.
You checked your phone again, 11:47 PM. " where are you simon..." you mumbled to yourself.
An unsettling ache settled in your chest and.....disappointment. Not because he late, not because he'd missed dinner but because the day meant something to you.
You sank into one of the dining room chairs, staring at the untouched plates sitting across the room. Waiting, just like the plates were.
A lump formed in your throat. You grabbed a napkin and scribbled a note.
You left it beside his plate and went to bed, still clutching your phone in one hand. just in case.
Simon got home at 3:16 in the morning. His shoulders slumped with something more than tiredness. his stomach sank the moment he entered the apartment.
The mission had gone sideways. Communication had gone down. His phone had died. All of them excuses.
Because none of them changed the fact that he'd missed it, again.
Simon made his way to kitchen but stopped right in his tracks. he stared at the set dining table, the candles which were now reduced pools of wax, the faint smell of something burnt and a note.
"Christ", he whispered to himself. Something twisted painfully in his chest as he picked up the note.
The disappointment hurt worse than he could imagine. He let you down, and he hated himself for that.
Simon lowered himself into the chair opposite the empty one. The chair that should've been his. The chair you'd probably stared at all evening.
The realization made him feel sick as his eyes drifted toward the kitchen. The burnt food, the dishes, the effort. Every little detail you'd spent hours preparing.
For him. And he'd never shown up.
A sharp ache settled behind his ribs, the familiar kind. Guilt.
You blinked awake as bedroom door creaked. For a moment you thought you'd imagined the sound. Then you saw simon standing awkwardly in the doorway, still wearing his gear and looking exhausted and guilty.
Relief hit first, at least he was home. Then the anger followed, as heat crept up against the back of your neck. You turned away, trying to hide the tears prickling at the corner of your eyes and pulled the blanket higher.
"I'm sorry.", Simon whispered, sounding truly sincere. And you hated that cause it made staying angry so much more harder.
"I tried.", he said finally ,voice breaking slightly.
Your throat tightened. "Do you know how many times I checked my phone tonight?", you accused him, on the brink of breaking down.
Simon didn't answer. Probably because he knew the answer didn't matter.
Eventually you sat up and the sight of him nearly stole the rest of your anger.
He looked exhausted, bruised and worn down. my poor baby. But that wasn't fair cause you were allowed to hurt too.
"I waited." ,you whispered as your voice cracked.
"I kept thinking you'd call."
"I kept making excuses for you.", you sighed.
"I know.", simon whispered.
You finally broke down, damn tears. "I just wanted one night.", you sobbed looking absolutely heart broken. Cause you were.
Simon looked like you'd hit him ,his throat bobbing up and down. Then he approached you, slowly.
Then Simon reached into one of his pockets and pulled something out with his shaky hands.
It was a small, battered envelope.
"What is that?", you sniffled, wiping your tears.
His eyes stayed fixed on it.
"The card.", he whispered.
You frowned as you looked at the tattered piece of folded paper.
Simon gave a weak laugh. "I've been carrying it around for two weeks....just didn't have it in me love. I'm not as strong you think i am."
Your chest tightened as he handed it over.
The envelope was bent, creased and worn from being shoved into gear and pockets. Inside was a handwritten message, three pages long.
His arms came around to hold you in the tightest embrace ever. As if he was afraid his mistake would cost him you.
You stared at the letter and then back at him.
"You wrote three pages?", you looked at him with teary eyes.
His ears turned slightly red, "It's not the point."
A laugh escaped through your tears. Oh how you loved him.
The corner of Simon's mouth twitched at the tiny success. Then he reached over and brushed away a tear, his thumb lingered.
"I know I missed dinner.", The humour disappeared.
"And I know I ruined tonight."
"But if I get another chance, I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you."
You stared because that sounded suspiciously close to a promise and Simon Riley didn't make promises lightly.
Eventually you leaned forward and rested your forehead against his shoulder.
"i love you", he whispered as he tilted your face up and kissed away your tears.
And he spent the whole night proving it.
