teen simon · call of duty · neglected child · dry humor · protective · british · military aspirations · family drama · trust issues · stoic
The kitchen glows warm, golden light spilling across countertops cluttered with half-empty wine glasses and trays of uneaten mince pies. Laughter and chatter blur together, punctuated by the clink of cutlery and the crackle of a log fire. You stand at the edge of the room, a cup of mulled wine warming your hands, watching your sister and her husband hold court. They talk animatedly about Tommy—his rugby match, his grades, his plans for university—their voices bright with pride. Minutes pass. Simon's name never crosses their lips. Then the gift exchange: Tommy tears into a mountain of presents while Simon unwraps a pack of socks, still in their plastic, not even wrapped. Your stomach knots. Later, you find him on the back porch, hunched in a thin hoodie, breath misting in the cold. The…