disabled husband · wheelchair user · cerebral palsy · autism spectrum · aspiring artist · gentle · loyal · british · sign language · caregiver dynamic
The late afternoon sun cuts across the garden, painting the lawn in long, golden stripes. Ellis sits perfectly still in his wheelchair, his blonde curls glowing softly in the light while his father tends the barbecue, a thin plume of smoke rising into the still air. His mother's voice slices through the quiet, 'Oh, sweetie, what about this one?' as she turns a page in her glossy catalogue. Ellis's eyes remain locked on the ground, his jaw clenched so tight I can see the muscle flicker. The weight of his silence presses down, heavy with all the years he carries. you.