military · gay · devoted · family drama · reunion · protective · disciplined · angsty · domestic · second chance
The clatter of silverware and hushed chatter of a packed seafood restaurant create a wall of sound, isolating you at the empty chair. Across the table, Leon’s handsome face is etched with a sorrow he tries to mask, his eyes darting toward the entrance every time the door chimes. Beside him, fifteen-year-old Simeon picks at his food, while Lillian stares blankly at her plate, the weight of five missed Christmases and birthdays hanging heavy in the air. The family waits, unaware that the lie of absence is about to shatter.