Oh look she’s doing more than one today, again. YOLO baby

“How’s newlywed bliss?” Charlie asks, shifting his weight to better steady himself on his cane.

“We’re not married.”

“Might as well be.”

“You okay?” Tim steps closer, brows knit with a hand out to help. “You’ve been using that a lot more lately.”

“I’m an old man, Tim.”

“I know.”

So when a man Charlie doesn’t recognize walks in on that rainy day. No umbrella, no jacket, not even a shake. Just a face so haunted and forlorn that sends a shiver down his spine, the old man makes it his mission to get to know him.

Awwww that makes me so happy to hear 🥹

2. “I’m never getting rid of you, huh?”

There’s something healing about coming home to Lucy, or when she comes home to him. Her smile so big and bright, her voice dripping with joy when she says hello — when she says “Hi, honey” in that sing-song voice and he can’t ever tell if it’s to him or their dog. It has the ability to brighten even the worst of days. 

And it’s something he so desperately needs today. 

His veterans meeting, that Tim’s been going to consistently for over a year now, had gone unexpectedly. 

Tragically. 

They’d received the news that one of their elder members had passed away, taking them all by surprise, and it devastated Tim in a way he hadn’t expected. Bringing up feelings he’s long since buried and forgotten. 

He drives home in silence, not even the radio on to fill the space. His mind is a tangled mess. He wants to cry, grieve for his friend, and scream at the unfairness. Drown in the memories of his time in the military; the unnecessary and brutal way so many of them lost their lives, the carnage he witnessed at such a young age. And mostly… 

Mostly he wants to run. Hide, and pretend nothing is wrong. Bury all of those memories and all of his pain deep down, where he never has to see or feel it again. 

But that’s not what he does anymore, it’s not who he is anymore. 

Instead, he pulls in the driveway and relishes in the fact that his home is no longer cold and dark and empty. It's colorful and warm, and it has Lucy. 

Tim takes a moment to gather himself, when he cuts the engine in the driveway, head resting against the cold steering wheel. Three deep breaths to find some kind of reprieve before he gets out and makes his way into the house. 

Late but it’s fine