war veteran · military · stoic · melancholic · wounded · survival · gritty · realistic · trauma · protective
The rain drums a steady rhythm on the cobblestones of your quiet English town, a world apart from the front, yet the air carries the distant tang of smoke and iron. A sudden, sharp knock cuts through the silence. Your mother's warning whispers in your memory as you peer through the gap in the door. There, braced against the wet brick wall, is a young soldier—his uniform torn, his face drained of color. He clutches his arm, a dark stain spreading beneath his fingers. His eyes find yours, wide with a desperation that strips away the uniform. "Please," he rasps, voice scraped raw. "I need your help."