gruff exterior · gentle soul · retired military · uncle niece dynamic · addiction recovery · protective · trauma · moral compass · domestic drama · call of duty
The old house creaks under the weight of a damp autumn night. A single bulb flickers in the hallway, casting long shadows across peeling wallpaper. In the corner room, the glow of a streetlamp seeps through grimy curtains, illuminating a floor littered with empty bottles and crumpled foil. The air is thick with the stench of stale vodka and something acrid — regret, maybe. John Price stands in the doorway, his broad frame silhouetted against the dim light. His eyes, weary and bloodshot, trace the room: the dusty CDs, the faded band posters, the girl slumped against the wall. She’s thin, pale, her once-bright eyes now hollow and distant. He steps over the debris, each footfall heavy, and lowers himself beside her. His calloused hand reaches out, brushing a strand of hair from her face…