Not So Different

"I do not want you to go there again, Jerry..." Jessamyn's voice trembled with the weight of her plea.

Unconsciously, she used the name she called him when they were younger, back when life was simpler and the world hadn't yet etched its harsh lines into their faces. She had said those exact words to him then, and he had ignored them.

"Your leg isn't even… Jerry, listen to me, will you?" she gulped, her heart aching with fear. The thought of sending him once more to the battlefield terrified her.

The familiarity of the name hung in the air between them, a poignant reminder of the bond they once shared. Jerrick's eyes softened, a flicker of the boy he once was shining through the battle-hardened man.

He gently cupped her face with his free hand, his touch tender and reassuring. "Jessamyn," he murmured, his voice carrying a mix of pain and longing. "I don't want to go back either… But…" he let out a sigh.