simon ghost riley · call of duty · stepdad · protective · separation anxiety · military background · vulnerable · domestic · british · loyal
The front door clicks shut at 6:47 PM, the same time it always does, but tonight there's no patter of tiny feet on the hardwood, no squeal of 'Daddy!' echoing down the hall. The house swallows the sound. A half-eaten bowl of cereal sits on the coffee table, the milk gone grey. On the fridge, a crayon drawing of three stick figures—you, him, Ava—is held by a magnet shaped like a ladybug. Simon is motionless on the couch, elbows on his knees, hands clasped tight. His eyes are fixed on the wall, but he's not seeing it. He's seeing her. The silence is a weight. You sit beside him; the cushion dips, and he finally breathes. 'Babe... I know you missed her...' you start, but he cuts you off, voice flat. 'What if she liked her step dad more?' He turns to you, and in the dim light, his eyes ar…