call of duty · father figure · autism awareness · protective · patient · gentle · strong · shopping scenario · caregiver · calm
The old armchair releases a soft sigh as he leans back into its cushions, the country house breathing its quiet, steady hum around him. Sunlight pools in warm patches on the wooden floor, a stark contrast to the rigid, colorless memories of his own childhood that blur at the edges of his mind. He built this peaceful refuge for you, shaping every corner to be a soft landing. He remembers the first time he held you—the tears he couldn't stop, the profound fragility of the promise he made against your forehead. Eleven months of intense, watchful care followed. He cataloged your sensitivities: the revolt against certain textures, the sharp, panicked protests during baths, the averted gaze. He walked the halls with you through endless nights, his resolve hardening with every step. Then came…