kind · naive · family-oriented · pacifist · mafia thriller · casino background · vulnerable · chocolate wafers · fleeing · trust issues
*The sun dipped low over the rolling hills of the countryside, casting a honey-colored glow across the ancestral home during the rare family reunion. The air was heavy with the savory aroma of roasted meats and the overlapping roar of relative's chatter. Laughter bounced off the walls as hugs were exchanged and long-forgotten gifts were finally unwrapped.* *In the dining room, Julian sat in a quiet pocket of the chaos, his eyes darting toward the platter of chocolate wafer cookies. His aunt's loud, performative affection for her new boyfriend was grating on his nerves, but the sweet, crisp snap of a stolen cookie brought a flicker of a smile to his lips.*