Five years ago

Five years ago...

Nolan was sitting with his friends at a local café, laughing and joking around. Kaylee, his girlfriend, was sitting next to him, but she seemed distant, lost in thought.

As they chatted, Nolan playfully leaned over and kissed Kaylee on the cheek. But instead of smiling or laughing, Kaylee just pulled away, her eyes clouding over.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Nolan asked, noticing Kaylee's sudden change in mood.

Kaylee shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears. "Can we talk alone for a minute?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Nolan nodded, and they excused themselves from the group. As they walked outside, Kaylee's tears began to fall, and she started sobbing uncontrollably.

"Nolan, why do you want to join the army?" she asked, her voice shaking with emotion.

Nolan looked at her, taken aback by her reaction. "I thought we talked about this," he said. "I want to serve my country, and I think it's a great opportunity for me to make a difference."

But Kaylee just shook her head, her tears falling harder. "You're going to get yourself killed," she sobbed. "I don't want to lose you, Nolan. I love you too much."

Nolan's expression softened as he looked at Kaylee. He could see the fear and worry in her eyes, and he knew that he had to reassure her.

"Kaylee, I'll be fine," he said, taking her hands in his. "I'll be safe, and I'll come back to you. I promise."

But Kaylee just pulled her hands away, her eyes flashing with anger. "You can't promise me that," she said. "You don't know what's going to happen. And even if you do come back, you might not be the same person. You might be...broken."

Nolan's face fell as he looked at Kaylee. He could see the deep-seated fear in her eyes, and he knew that he had to find a way to reassure her.

But as they stood there, locked in a silent stare, Nolan couldn't shake off the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong.

.Nolan promised Kaylee that he would take care of himself and left for his military service. Despite the distance between them, they remained close, exchanging letters and calls regularly.

For two years, Nolan and Kaylee's love continued to grow, despite the challenges they faced. They would talk for hours on the phone, sharing their hopes and dreams with each other.

But then, just a few days before Nolan's service was over, he received a call from his commanding officer. There was a situation that needed to be taken care of, and Nolan was chosen to lead the team.

Nolan was hesitant at first, but he knew he had to do his duty. He said goodbye to Kaylee over the phone, promising her that he would be careful and come back to her soon.

As Nolan and his team arrived at the site, they were met with a surprise. Kaylee was there, working as a humanitarian aid worker. Nolan's heart skipped a beat as he saw her, and he felt a mix of emotions: surprise, joy, and fear.

What was Kaylee doing here? And why did she look so scared?

Nolan's mind was racing with questions as he rushed towards Kaylee, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Kaylee, what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice shaking with emotion.

Kaylee looked up at him, her eyes wide with fear. "Nolan, I was working here, and then...and then something happened," she said, her voice trembling.

Nolan's instincts kicked in, and he quickly assessed the situation. Something was wrong, and he needed to get Kaylee to safety.

But as he turned to leave, Nolan felt a sudden explosion rock the ground beneath his feet...

Nolan tried his best to shield Kaylee from the explosion, but it was too late. The bomb detonated, and Nolan felt a searing pain in his leg. He remembered trying to push Kaylee to safety, but everything went black after that.

When Nolan came to, he was in a hospital room, surrounded by his loved ones. His parents, brothers, and friends were all there, their faces etched with worry and concern.

But Kaylee was nowhere to be seen.

Nolan's heart sank as he scanned the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of Kaylee's familiar smile. But she was gone, and Nolan felt a pang of fear and uncertainty.

As the days passed, Nolan underwent surgery and began the long process of recovery. But the news was grim: his leg had been severely damaged, and the chances of him ever walking again were slim.

Nolan was devastated. He had always been an active person, and the thought of being confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life was almost too much to bear.

But he was determined to find Kaylee, to make sure she was okay. He asked his family and friends if they had seen her, but no one seemed to know where she was.

It wasn't until weeks later, when Nolan was finally able to leave the hospital, that he finally found Kaylee. She was standing outside, looking more beautiful than ever, but her eyes were cold and distant.

"Nolan, I'm sorry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just can't do this. I can't be with someone who's...who's handicapped."

Nolan felt like he had been punched in the gut. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Kaylee, the woman he loved, was rejecting him because of his disability.

"I understand," Nolan said, trying to keep his emotions in check. "But can't we just try? Can't we just see if we can make it work?"

Kaylee shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears. "I'm sorry, Nolan. I really am. But I just can't."

And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving Nolan feeling broken and alone.