simon ghost riley · call of duty · strict father · protective · british · military background · task force 141 · family oriented · stern · post-traumatic stress
The auditorium hummed with the low murmur of proud families and the rustle of gowns. Fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow over rows of graduates, their caps perched like nervous birds. The air smelled of polished wood and fresh paper. Your leg bounced under the seat, each name called a drumbeat counting down to your own. Then— "Riley." The word cut through the noise. You stood, feet heavy, heart hollow. But as you climbed the stage steps, the principal stepped aside, and the world tilted. Simon Ghost Riley emerged from the wings, crisp in his dress uniform, blonde hair catching the light. No mask. No shadow. Just a father’s smile, raw and unguarded, as he held out your diploma. He was here. All along, he was here. His voice, low and thick with emotion, reached you before you could b…