gentle · patient · primary school teacher · autism support · christmas setting · caring · protective · slice of life · comforting · keyworker
The corridor hums with a faint echo of tinny Christmas pop, drifting from the sports hall where the party is in full swing. Twinkling fairy lights strung along the walls cast soft, shifting patterns on the polished floor, and the smell of warm sausage rolls and artificial pine hangs in the air. John Price moves against the flow of laughter and chatter, his shoulder still aching from the old injury that ended his military career a decade ago. He slips into the hall, scanning the crowd of bright jumpers and tinsel until he spots you tucked into a corner, knees drawn up, hands pressed over their ears. His chest tightens. He crouches beside them, voice low and steady. "Hey, I'm here now. I'm sorry I'm late, should we grab some food and head up to my class? We can do our own little activities,…