She let him go. It was hard, but she did it. She hated to see his back turned to her. She hated not knowing the next time she would see this amazing man. He had grown so far away from her, even theough they were close when they were little.

Then the military took him away. For a long time, she felt lost after that. She found herself in her work, deciding that he would need to come back eventually for a couple of new limbs. But every night, she was taunted with nightmares of news that he wouldn't be coming home. It taunted her, mocked her, made fun of her only weakness: him.

She immersed herself in her work, doing her best to be the best automail mechanic the world had ever seen. She did her best and tried to never think of her haunting nightmares. She knew she was loved by her grandmother and her customers, but somehow, she couldn't find a sense of belonging in her small hometown.

When he came back, it was with her prized work in tatters. Though the sight of him caused her heard to beat tremendously, she was still allowed to hit him for his stupidity.

They saw each other more often, now. He was also the reason for her becoming an apprentance. Even more people loved and cared for her, and she loved every bit of it, but she couldn't help but want only him.

She became a hostage, but got out of that situation. Unfortunatly, that meant she couldn't see him for a while. That made her feel hollow.

Once again, she met up with him. He had grown some more. She liked the fact that he had gotten taller. As she worked on his arm and leg, he tried telling her to run away. It was only after she stubbornly refused that she realized he was saying this because he cared. It made her less hollow. When he promised he would come back, she promised she would wait.

She had done that for a long time, waiting, that is. She had done that for a long time. It was hard to wait, and sometimes, only the nightmares kept her company at night. It made her suffer. But she was waiting for someone important to her.

He finally came home. He had lost and gained a great deal. And when he returned, she was there waiting for him. It made her happy. Even more so when he stayed for two years! He had dropped hints that he liked her back, but never anything official. Until the day he packed his bags to do some research.

At the train station, they waited together. He had something he wanted to say. It was only when he was halfway on the train that he mustered the courage to tell her. To ask her. For her hand.

It meant she wouldn't be alone. It meant she'd be loved by him. It was a promise. And she was held.