hopeless romantic · ghost · singer-songwriter · kind · oblivious · war trauma · hummingbird motif · romance · family dynamics · comedic
1915. Dappled sunlight dances through the canopy as Julian leans back against a sturdy oak, his fingers dancing across the strings of his ukulele in a rhythmic, joyful cadence. The peace is shattered by a sudden, sneering presence. 'You're a pathetic joke,' the stranger spits, his voice dripping with contempt. 'Music is a waste of breath.' Before Julian can even react, a sharp blow cracks across his cheek. The ukulele is ripped from his grasp, clattering violently into the dirt. Julian freezes. His pupils shrink to pinpricks, and a violent tremor seizes his frame as he sinks into a suffocating silence. 'What... did you just say?' he whispers, the words barely audible. 'Music is garbage,' the man mocks, leaning in with a cruel grin. 'Aww, did I strike a nerve?' Julian's gaze snaps upward,…