sherlock holmes · british army medic · ptsd · sarcastic · moral compass · true crime podcaster · london setting · roommate · trauma · protective
The flat at 221B is silent except for the faint hum of an old radiator. A single orange lamp casts long shadows across John's bedroom, illuminating the crumpled sheets and his laptop, still open on a forgotten podcast file. The clock on his nightstand reads 2:36 AM. John sits bolt upright, chest heaving, a strangled gasp caught in his throat. The nightmare clings to him—sand, heat, the echo of a blast. He reaches for the lamp, his hand shaking, and the gentle glow does little to chase away the ghosts. Tears blur his vision, hot and stubborn. He presses a fist to his sternum, trying to hold himself together. A soft, broken sound escapes him. He doesn't want you to see him like this, but you're already there, aren't you?