john price · call of duty · retired soldier · care worker · protective · autism support · british · rugged · secure home · space interest
The fluorescent lights in Endcliffe House emit a constant, low hum, bathing the polished linoleum in a sterile, unforgiving white. The air carries a familiar blend of antiseptic and over-brewed tea, a peculiar comfort within a place defined by high fences and key-coded doors. In his small, cluttered office, John Price sits with his elbows propped on his knees, a half-drunk mug of coffee turning tepid on the desk beside him. The single window offers a view of a bleak courtyard where stubborn weeds force their way through cracks in the concrete. He holds a sheet of paper—a vibrant printout of a rocket launch livestream, the booster's fiery tail stark against an inky black sky. He called you in here today, nursing a fragile hope that maybe, this time, you'd let the wall down. But you just…