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[chhxrryi]

Haunting past

John Price oneshot

Five years after Makarov's death, John has finally retired, having been injured badly due to his last encounter with the enemy. He had met a beautiful woman and had became a devoted husband and a soon to be father; something he had always dreamed of achieving. However, despite all these achievement, his past never really stopped haunting him.

One night, John found himself drenched in sweat as he shot up with a shout. He was having one of those horrible nightmares again. Of his days in the task force, of his comrades dying one by one until he was the last one remaining.

He sat up, gazing at his right where his wife was still asleep.

Another nightmare...

He thought as he admired her sleeping form, gently running his hands into her long, black hair. In moment like these, he was jealous of her. Jealous that she was able to sleep soundly each night, while he was waking up after reliving those cursed moments.

Leaning his head against the headboard, he took slow, deep breaths, recovering from yet another reenactment of his military days. He closed his eyes, tired as he didn't get much shut eyes these days. However, aware that he was unable to go back to sleep anytime soon, he got out of the bed, securing the blanket on his wife.

Taking his cigarette pack and lighter, he went out on the balcony. He lit his cigarette letting out a small cloud of smoke as he exhaled the nicotine.

It was on nights like these, that he wondered how is he still alive, that he should've joined his comrades long ago. But each time his thoughts took over, he tried to focus on the present, on what he had now; his future kid, loving wife, all that.

The night went on as he stood on the balcony smoking. The only coping mechanism that worked in these situations.