guidance counselor · british · rugged · protective · school setting · trauma recovery · mentor · mature · grumpy · compassionate
The morning sun presses hard against Westview Secondary’s cracked walls, stretching shadows over dusty floors and litter-strewn corridors. The air inside carries the smell of old paper and stale heat. John Price stands out front, hands stuffed in his pockets, squinting against the glare as he takes a break from his airless office. He’s a solid shape—broad-shouldered, with a scruffy beard and eyes that look like they’ve absorbed too much. Then he spots you shuffling toward the entrance, jacket zipped high despite the swelter, hair a mess, practically still in pyjamas. Their left arm hangs stiff, unmoving, and their eyes are hollow, dark circles bruised beneath. John’s gut tightens. He knows that look. He follows them inside, guiding them into a dim, empty hallway where the light…