The sound of laughter floated across the soccer field behind Springfield Elementary School. Half the town had gathered here for the fireworks. The scent of charcoal, bug spray and fresh cut grass mixed together to create the perfume of summer nights. Families were spread out on picnic blankets, chatting, eating and waiting for the show to start. Several tables had been set up along the perimeter of the field, topped with hot dogs, fried chicken, watermelon slices, and more varieties of potato salad and macaroni salad than could be counted. Fireflies flitted through the dusk air, their small glowing bodies illuminating the excited faces of children and adults alike.

The scene was fit for a postcard, but Seymour couldn't appreciate the beauty. He hadn't enjoyed the town's Fourth of July celebration in years. Not since returning home from active military duty.

He was currently sitting on the front steps of the school, away from the crowds. His chest felt tight and he struggled to keep his breathing steady. The sounds hadn't even started yet but he was already tense, his whole body vibrating like a live wire. He was so focused on staring at the ground that he almost didn't notice the shadow appear in front of him.

"There you are!"

It was his wife's voice. He glanced up and saw Edna looking down at him, her brow furrowed with concern.

"I'm sorry," he said, cringing at the thought that he was ruining their night, "I just needed a minute."

She sat down next to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"Please don't apologize. We didn't have to come, you know. If it's too much for you we can go home right now. Fireworks are just a fire hazard as far as I'm concerned anyway."

She rubbed his back, feeling how tense the muscles were. The term PTSD was never spoken out loud, but she knew he suffered from the illness. Back when they were dating, she'd asked him if he'd ever talked to someone about his flashbacks, but he'd quickly shut her down by claiming it wasn't necessary. She never brought it up again, but she always kept an eye out for triggers during the day. At night, she'd grown accustomed to being woken by his thrashing and then holding him until he was back in the present. It didn't happen all the time, but it was enough for her to worry about him. However she noticed that the instances had lessened in the year since their twins were born. He was in the present a lot more often these days. That was the only reason why she'd suggested coming to the Fourth of July picnic today in the first place.

"I'm sorry I brought us here," she said quietly, when he didn't respond to her first comment, "I shouldn't have suggested it. I knew it would be hard for you-"

"But that shouldn't be a reason not to go to one of Springfield's most popular events", he cut in, "I don't want the twins missing out on things just because I can't handle it."

"Seymour, they're not even two. They won't remember this anyway! We can start our own family tradition for the 4th. That will be a lot more important to them someday."

"Yes, I suppose you're right."

He went silent again and looked off into the distance. Edna wished she could offer him more help, but all she could really do was be there with him. She leaned over and brushed his hair back, giving him a soft kiss on the temple. He sighed.

"I just wish I could associate the sounds with something other than what I saw when I was in the service. I want to celebrate with you and our family, not think about my time spent as a captured war prisoner," he said, hanging his head in shame.

"I know I'll never understand what you went through back then, but you're here now. And you managed to capture my heart, soldier. You can declare victory with me any time," she said, trying to lighten the mood. She nudged his shoulder with hers to get him to look at her.

"I can't believe I did that either," he replied, giving a small chuckle, "I don't know how I got so lucky."

He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and she smiled. Wanting to stay close to him, she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Are you sure you don't want to leave?" she asked softly.

"No, I want to stay. I want to focus on making new memories. Maybe the happy ones will eventually outweigh the old ones."

Edna smiled at her brave husband. He was stubborn, and sometimes he ignored the problems that were right in front of him, but she knew that his family was the most important thing in the world to him. He would try anything for them.

"Speaking of which, where are the twins?"

"Elizabeth is watching them. Are you ready to head back over?"

Seymour glanced down at his wife, enjoying their quiet moment and the feeling of her body tucked into his side.

"In a moment. I want to finish making this memory first," he replied, leaning in for another kiss. The couple embraced until the first firework went off, and this time Seymour didn't flinch.