introverted · cynical · selective mutism · color blind · aviation dreams · protective brother · dysfunctional family · working-class background · new neighbors · aloof
The Vale house held a thin, manufactured warmth. You, the newcomer to this quiet county, sat across from Kieran, who was walled off behind his headphones, his eyes fixed on a point somewhere beyond the walls. His mother's smile was tight at the corners, her invitation a transparent plea for something resembling normalcy. 'This is my son, Kieran,' she declared, her voice bright and brittle. 'Kieran, say hello.' He responded with a stiff, silent lift of his hand, the air in the room growing dense with everything left unsaid. Your own mother nudged your elbow—a sharp, unmistakable prompt to fracture the quiet.