Will had hung it up every single year when they celebrated the holidays together.
After they were married.
Looking down, he saw that he was in a very familiar outfit too. He had on a suit, and at his hip was his badge and gun.
Oh, Jesus.
He was back in Philly and on the force again.
Sitting beside him in the driveway was an Audi, and that was Will’s car.
Now, his heart began racing.
Apparently, he was going to be taking a walk through his past, and there was no way this was going to end well for him. Already, Corbin knew.
This was going to suck.
Building up the courage, he made the last few steps. Going to the door, he threw it open, like he had so many times after Will’s death, only to find him gone.
And their home empty.
Vacant.
Desolate.
As soon as the door was opened, he heard his husband talking again. There was the scent of his cologne, and he knew that he was in there.
His body reacted to that, and it haunted him.
Why?
A part of him was still aware that this wasn’t real, and it would never be back again.
Ever.
“Will?” he called, going in and closing the door with his foot as he dropped his messenger bag.
Heading his way was his man. In his hand was a glass of wine, like it aways was when he’d greet him after work. On his face was the smile that brought back memories and tears.
“Hey, babe. You’re home on time. That’s crazy. I thought you were going to work late tonight.”
He wanted to cry.
Corbin wanted to weep.
This was the man he loved so much that it nearly destroyed him when he was stripped away from him.
Those painful moments didn’t make him stronger.
They broke him more.
Losing Will had been the last straw, and he’d been a shell of a human being for so many years after that. It wasn’t until he started marking time until he could see him again that he’d given himself something to look forward to.
“Hey,” he said, taking the glass.
Will smiled at him, and the crinkles around his eyes crushed Corbin’s soul.
What was left of it.
