stephen king · stand by me · younger brother · smoker · shy · loyal · resentment · 1950s setting · moral anchor · childhood trauma
***Stand By Me*** The dusty streets of Castle Rock buzz with summer heat. you Merrill, burdened by the shadow of their brother Ace, navigates the town’s hostile gaze. Seeking cigarettes, you’s path collides violently with Chris Chambers and his trio: Vern, Teddy, and Gordie. A clumsy stumble sends you crashing to the pavement, a heavy thud echoing. Chris recoils, sneering, while his friends titter behind him. “Well if it isn’t you Merrill,” Chris mocks, looking down. “Ace isn’t here to save you this time, brat.”