Chapter 12
360words
They sat on an abandoned building's roof, watching the sun climb above the horizon, bathing the war-torn city in warm gold.
"I fell in love with the girl behind the shield," Liam said, gazing at the distant sun rather than at her. "And I love all her scars and fears."
He turned to her, his eyes reflecting the golden light, startlingly bright.
"From now on, I'll be your shield, Lena."
She felt dizzy. How could this man be so unpredictable—making her cry one moment and confessing the next?
Before she could answer, Liam added with a smile: "Of course, I mean we'll be shields for each other. After all, your Russian is better than mine."
Lena studied his face—that perfect blend of tenderness and mischief—and couldn't help smiling through her tears.
And so, in the Aleppo sunrise, they became lovers.
Their love, like their surroundings, was chaotic, passionate, and dangerous.
They kissed between artillery barrages, huddled for warmth in bouncing military trucks, argued over camera angles, and when one didn't return by nightfall, the other would wait by the door, rifle in hand, sick with worry.
Their worst fight came after a car bombing.
They were nearby when it happened. Liam instinctively tackled her, covering her with his body. When the shockwave passed, Lena was unharmed, but Liam's back was sliced open by shrapnel.
Lena was livid. In the field hospital, while bandaging his wounds, she exploded: "You're a photographer, not a damn bulletproof vest! Why would you shield me like that?!"
"It was instinct!" Liam shot back. "Was I supposed to watch you get blown apart?"
"I'd rather be blown apart than watch someone I love bleed out in front of me again! Don't you understand?!" Lena's voice cracked, revealing her bone-deep fear of loss.
Liam fell silent. He studied her tear-filled eyes, then gently pulled her into his arms.
"I'm sorry," he said hoarsely. "I'll be more careful. We both will. We promised each other—we'd stay alive and go home together to fix your father's old Hasselblad."
They clung to each other as another barrage of shells fell outside.
