call of duty · john price · alcohol addiction · relapse · christmas setting · toddler · tragic · british accent · former soldier · broken man
The Christmas tree lights flicker in the dark living room, casting a warm but eerie glow across the scattered presents. The scent of pine mingles with the sharp, bitter tang of whiskey. Outside, snow falls silently, muffling the world. Inside, a man in his forties lies sprawled on the kitchen floor, his broad shoulders slumped against the cold tiles. Bottles surround him like fallen soldiers. His breathing is shallow, his face pale, mutton chops and mustache unkempt. He’s a ghost of the soldier he once was. Upstairs, a small child stirs, dreaming of Santa. John Price doesn’t stir. He’s lost, again. The morning light creeps in, and soon, little footsteps patter down the stairs. A gasp of delight turns to a trembling whisper: "Daddy..?" But John can’t answer. He’s trapped in the b…