When the Gun Falls Silent, the Past Fades Away

Her disappearance was sudden, unexpected C my fiance, vanished the night before our wedding, just hours before she was due to hand over crucial evidence in a high-stakes smuggling case. Even when the authorities declared her fallen in the line of duty, I refused to believe it. For five long years, I searched.

Then, I saw her. Standing beside a forensic expert hired by the very police department that had declared her dead, her belly subtly rounded, her eyes holding nothing but the blankness of a stranger.

Overjoyed, I brought her home, and slowly, painstakingly, helped her reclaim her memories. She made a resolute decision, ending that pregnancy, and married me. The man by her side that day, Dr. Vance Holloway, simply vanished from her life.

It wasn't until a critical operation, when she threw herself in front of a bullet meant for me, her lifeblood staining the ground, that she whispered in my ear: "Ive repaid what I owed you in this life, Julian." Her voice, barely a breath, added, "Next time don't look for me. Let me live my life with him."

I understood then. She regretted it all.

And then, I opened my eyes again. I was back at the airport, back to the day we first reunited.

The afternoon sun, fractured by the terminal's glass walls, cast shifting patterns of light and shadow across the polished floor. Beside me, a sharp intake of breath, laced with disbelieving shock.

"Boss, is that Elaine? She's alive!"

"Lucas, keep your voice down." I bit out the words, my gaze, however, was already magnetically drawn, pinned to the figure across the concourse.

"Captain Thorne, it really is her! Five years!"

Lucass voice trembled. Wed been classmates at the academy, and he, more than anyone, knew the hell Id walked through these past five years. I snapped back to reality, my knuckles white from gripping nothing but air.

In front of me, a woman in a cream-colored trench coat leaned in, listening to the man beside her. Sunlight painted a soft curve across her slightly swollen abdomen. As she turned her head, her eyes met mine. They were clear, but held only polite detachment, as if she were looking at a complete stranger.

This was it. The place wed reunited. The genesis of every tragedy in my previous life. My instincts screamed, and I instinctively moved, cutting off my colleague, who was poised to charge forward. "Don't."

Lucas looked utterly bewildered. "Why not? That's Elaine! She's not dead!"

In my previous life, Id seen her here too. Id rushed forward like a madman, desperate to claim her. Id pleaded, pulled strings, even called in her parents. Eventually, I brought her home. Wed found the best psychologists and neurologists, working day and night to retrieve her memories.

The day she finally remembered everything, she wept, silently went to the hospital to terminate the pregnancy, and then married me. But the day we signed the marriage certificate, Vance Holloway vanished from her world as if he'd never existed. Her silence, the deep-seated sorrow in her eyes, became an unbreachable chasm between us, a forbidden zone in our marriage.

It wasn't until that mission, when she took that fatal bullet for me, that her final request was to be released, to be free, to live her life with Vance in another existence.

The thought squeezed my throat, and my voice came out raspy, "She's pregnant." I took a deep, shuddering breath, swallowing the metallic tang in my mouth. "And the man with her that's Vance Holloway, the expert the International Criminal Police Organization hired."

Lucass urgency flared. "Then all the more reason to bring her back! You searched for her for five years! We all thought she was blown to bits with the evidence in that smuggling case"

"She's doing well now."

I cut him off, my gaze sweeping over Vances hand, instinctively resting on her lower back. My heart felt like it was being pummeled by a blunt object, again and again. "Look at her. She doesn't recognize us. Does she look like someone clinging to the past?"

Lucas still tried to argue. "But she's Elaine! You two were inseparable, childhood sweethearts, graduated the academy together, even had your wedding date set"

"After five years in the thick of it, dodging bullets and accumulating scars, my body isn't suited for building a family anymore."

Lucas froze. It took him a moment to find his voice. "Captain Thorne, dont talk nonsense. Modern medicine is so advanced"

"It's true." My voice was eerily calm, as if discussing someone elses fate. Five years chasing criminals on the border had left me with chronic back and knee issues. The internal injuries from the bullet graze in the last mission hadnt healed properly either. "My last check-up confirmed permanent functional damage."

But none of that was the real reason. I couldnt forget Elaine on that operating table in my past life, couldnt forget her tracing her empty womb, saying, "Now we're even," couldnt forget the look of release in her eyes as she was shot, that blood-flecked "Next time"

A moment of silence stretched between us before Lucass voice softened. "Even so, she should be allowed to choose."

I shook my head, my Adam's apple bobbing. "I owe her enough already. If I hadn't pushed for her to go undercover in that smuggling operation, none of this would have happened. Now she's forgotten the past, she has a new life. Why would I drag her back into the mud?"

In my past life, Id forced her back to my side, believing it was salvation, but it ultimately became a living hell for us both. She guarded her guilt towards Vance, and I clung to my obsession with her. We exhausted every last ounce of affection in endless arguments. It wasn't until that look of liberated relief in her eyes as she shielded me from the bullet that I fully understood:

Some missed chances are for a lifetime.

Lucas sighed, finally relenting. "So we just watch?"

"First, we finish the mission. Command is waiting for Professor Holloway."

The escort process went more smoothly than anticipated. Vance Holloway was polite and composed, his gaze towards the woman beside him filled with quiet indulgence. At the end, he requested our assistance in helping "Elara Vance" find her family in the country.

"She hasn't been well, and she's been through a lot. We're not pushing her to recover her memories; well let it happen naturally. But well need official identification to get married, so we'd appreciate your help."

I handed back the form with "Elara Vance's" basic information, my tone strictly professional. "It's our duty, Professor. Congratulations to Miss Vance, on starting a new life. We'll verify the information and issue the necessary documents as soon as possible."

Elara nodded and offered a polite, distant smile. "Thank you, Captain Thorne."

For the next few days, I forced myself not to inquire about any progress. Until Vance brought her to the precinct himself to confirm the paperwork.

The office door opened. Seeing me, she instinctively shrank back behind Vance, her already pale face draining of color. I knew. The internal inquiries into Elaras identity over the past few days must have unearthed fragments of her past, putting both her and Vance on guard.

Now, she sat on the visitors sofa, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her trench coat, her eyes darting away, refusing to meet mine. Her thin face radiated an obvious unease.

"Captain Thorne, are all the documents in order?" Vance spoke first, his tone polite but unmistakably distant, lacking the previous warmth.

I pushed the neatly compiled file across the table. My voice was steady. "Everythings in order. The registry system has confirmed: Elara Vance is Elaine Monroe. Her parents weve informed them."

At the mention of her parents, Elaines shoulders trembled almost imperceptibly. I guessed she had probably already seen them, and vaguely learned something of her past.

Vance took the file. When he looked up at me, the wariness in his eyes was undisguised. "Thank you for your diligence, Captain. However, Im curious, you seem particularly invested in Miss Vances situation?"

The question was blunt, a clear demarcation. Behind me, the muffled footsteps of my colleagues told me theyd sensed the shift in atmosphere, discreetly avoiding our conversation.

I replied calmly, "Elaine Monroe was a cadet at the academy, and a former colleague. Verifying the identity of a missing person is simply part of my duty."

Vance persisted, his voice hardening slightly. "But from what I understand, Captain Thorne, youve been searching for her for the past five years?"

Before I could respond, the office door burst open.

"Julian!"

Mrs. Monroe spotted me instantly, rushing forward, her eyes reddened. "Thank heavens for you, we wouldn't have found Elara without you. This girl"

Mr. Monroe clapped me on the shoulder, his voice filled with emotion. "Youve worked so hard all these years. We all thought we all thought she was gone, and only you never gave up."

Their warmth and familiarity made the atmosphere even more charged. Elaine instinctively edged closer to Vance. Mrs. Monroe gripped my hand, chattering on.

"Isnt it ironic? You two were supposed to get married right after graduation, then all this happened. Now, she's back, but" She glanced at Elaines stomach, then at Vance.

"Aunt Eleanor, you've misunderstood." I was about to explain, but Elaine suddenly stood up, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly. She walked to Vances side, gently took his arm, and looked at her parents, her gaze exceptionally firm.

"Dad, Mom, I think you already know. Vance is my fianc. Captain Thorne and I we just knew each other before. We dont have any special relationship now."

"Please don't bring up the past. Im doing very well now."

Mrs. Monroe was stunned, then sighed. "Elara, you and Julian were so good together. School, training, you said you'd never marry anyone else"

"Mom!" Elaine cut her off, her eyes welling up. "That's all in the past. Now, I just want to build a life with Vance."

Vance reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, his gaze settling on me, a distinct possessiveness in his eyes. "Mr. and Mrs. Monroe, I understand your affection for Captain Thorne, but Elara has chosen me."

Vance, at just the right moment, put an arm around Elaras shoulders, looking at me, his tone calm but with an undeniable declaration. "Captain Thorne, thank you for helping my fiance find her family. I trust Captain Thorne is a man of integrity and would not interfere in another's relationship."

A heavy silence fell over the office.

I looked at the older couple, who once treated me like a son, then at Elaine, her eyes full of defensiveness, and Vance, shielding her. My heart felt like it was submerged in ice water.

I took a deep breath, gently led Mr. and Mrs. Monroe aside, and spoke in a low voice, clear enough to be heard. "Uncle David, Aunt Eleanor, finding Elara again is wonderful. But her safety and happiness are paramount now. If she doesnt remember, forcing it won't help."

I paused, my throat tightening. "Elara and I we were not meant to be. Congratulations on your family being reunited. From now on I won't intrude."

Mrs. Monroes tears immediately began to fall. She clutched my arm. "Julian, dont say that! For these past five years, if it werent for you holding things together, our family would have fallen apart we remember everything youve done for us"

Mr. Monroe also let out a heavy sigh, his voice hoarse. "Foolish boy, whats this about intruding? Even if youre not our son-in-law, this will always be your home! Come back for dinner anytime!"

"That might not be appropriate." Vance suddenly spoke, his tone cool. "Since Captain Thorne has decided to let go, it would be best to completely cut ties, to avoid further disruption to our lives."

Elara, head bowed, softly echoed, "Vance is right, Captain Thorne. In the future perhaps we shouldn't meet again."

Mr. Monroe's face immediately darkened. He shot Vance a sharp glance, his voice laced with suppressed anger. "My wife and I arent so muddled that wed discard someone once theyre no longer useful! What Julian has done for Elara these past five years, weve seen and remembered. We already consider him a son. Its not for an outsider to comment on."

Mrs. Monroe, her eyes red-rimmed, held my hand tightly. "Exactly! If you find Julians presence an inconvenience, then dont come back to this house! We recognize him as our kin, and that has nothing to do with you!"

Vances face tightened. He attempted to explain, "Mrs. Monroe, youve misunderstood. We just feel that since Elara has chosen to start a new life, some unnecessary ties might"

"Unnecessary ties?" Mr. Monroe cut him off, his voice now chilling. "Professor Holloway, you saved our daughter, and were grateful. But weve seen how Julian has lived these past five years, and it pains us. Now you dismiss him with a phrase like 'unnecessary ties'? Isnt that taking advantage of him?"

Seeing the escalating tension, Elaine quickly took her mothers arm, her voice pleading. "Mom! Dad! Please don't be like this Vance didnt mean it that way. We don't dislike Captain Thorne. He just wants me to focus on my pregnancy. The past is a burden to me, and I just want a peaceful life now."

Watching her instinctively defend Vance, my heart felt like it was being crushed, a dull ache spreading through me. Five years of searching, and in her eyes, it had become a past that shouldn't even be mentioned.

I took a deep breath, gently pulling Mr. and Mrs. Monroe away, who were still ready to argue. "Uncle David, Aunt Eleanor, I understand your feelings. But Elaine is right, maintaining some distance is necessary."

I looked at Vance and Elaine, then continued. "Professor Holloways concerns are valid. I will be mindful in the future, and try not to intrude on your time with her parents, to avoid any awkwardness."

Mrs. Monroe was distraught. "Julian! What nonsense are you talking about! That is your home!"

I shook my head, my voice softening. "That will always be your home, Uncle David and Aunt Eleanor, and I respect that. But Elaine has her own family now. My frequent presence really isn't appropriate. If you wish to see me, you can always come to the precinct or my place. I will gladly host you. Theres no need to hurt your relationship with your daughter over me."