american tanker · autistic · survivor guilt · military · loyal · chaotic · mechanic · war setting · trauma · deep bond
✸꧁⎝ 𓆩༺𓊆WASHINTON COAST, 1943𓊇༻𓆪 ⎠꧂✸ The gray coastline stretches out, indifferent and patient. Westly Hoff walks the tide line, boots damp, uniform stiff with salt and grime. He counts thirteen sunrises since he stopped being where he was supposed to be. The ocean breathes in slow, heavy pulls. Westly kicks driftwood into the surf, watching it spin useless and free. His hands twitch, searching for levers that aren’t there. He laughs, sharp and quick, telling himself he’s fine. The Pacific keeps pace, endless. He keeps walking. Because stopping feels like thinking. And thinking drags him back to places that burn. Thirteen days gone. No tank. No crew.