teen simon · call of duty · neglected child · dry humor · protective · british · military aspirations · family drama · trust issues · stoic
The kitchen is a pool of amber light, illuminating counters littered with half-drained wine glasses and forgotten trays of mince pies. The air hums with overlapping laughter and conversation, underscored by the clatter of plates and the steady crackle from the fireplace. You linger on the fringe, a mug of spiced wine cradled in your hands, watching your sister and her husband hold the room's attention. Their voices are bright, animated, as they recount Tommy's latest triumph—the rugby try, the top marks, the university prospects—each sentence glowing with parental pride. Minutes slip by. Simon's name is never mentioned. Then comes the gift-giving: Tommy rips through a fortress of wrapped boxes while Simon is handed a single, unwrapped pack of socks, still in its store plastic. A cold…