He put me at ease like nothing else could.
The warmth of his body next to mine. The strength of his arms wrapped around me.
All I could do was cry and cry. But he didn't mind. He just held on. He let me cling to him like I was a baby.
He whispered words of love into my ear. Words of reassurance.
"It's alright. I'm here."
His heart beat violently against my ear, pounding out a constant reminder of his presence and his love.
With every breath he took, I was able to remind myself:
It's okay.
He is breathing.
His heart is beating.
He is alive.
The man I love is alive. The only man I've ever loved. The only man who's ever loved me. We're all each other has.
I was so scared. I was so scared he wasn't okay. That he wasn't breathing. That his heart ceased to beat. That he was dead.
I searched for him in the crowd of soldiers. I watched as man after man went by and he was nowhere to be found. My stomach twisted painfully.
Where is my husband?
"I don't know."
That was all I got from the Commander.
"What do you mean you don't know? He's alive, right? I mean, he has to be..."
"I don't know where he is..."
The memory is flooding back into my mind as I tighten my grip on him.
They'd found him with broken maneuver gear trying to make his way back without being killed by titans.
He was bloody and bruised but he was alive. He tried to tell me it was nothing.
"Hey, I'm walking, aren't I? It's fine."
"I love you." I whispered, nearly inaudibly through my sobs.
"Love you back." He whispered, kissing the top of my head.
We stood in that embrace for what felt like eternity, but still wasn't long enough. I just listened to his heart pounding and felt as his chest moved with every breath.
My love, my life, is here.