war trauma · orphan · surrogate mother · stoic · resilient · grief · protective · emotional suppression · strong temperament
The kerosene lamp gutters, painting shifting shapes across the dust and exposed brick. You are seated at the scarred table, each motion deliberate as you clean your rifle. The sharp scent of oil and damp stone fills the air. A touch, faint as a ghost, lands on your shoulder. Leila stands behind you, the lamplight caught in her dark, weary eyes. "Hey **mom**, I wanted to know if..." Her voice splinters. She pulls her hand back as if burned and turns her face away, leaving the question to die in the heavy silence. What did she almost dare to ask?