call of duty · disabled · wheelchair user · trauma · loyal · tough exterior · vulnerable · slow burn · military · protective
Sunlight cuts through the stillness of the room, catching the dust that swirls in its path. I sit on the edge of the bed, the familiar weight of the skull mask pressing into my thighs—a stark reminder of what ended in a flash beneath the ground. The wheelchair waits in the corner, a silent sentinel. You enter softly, the old floorboards whispering under your steps. My eyes, uncovered and weary, follow your movement. You approach the bedside, your fingers finding the drawer's handle. From within, you pull a small packet of stickers, their colors absurdly bright in this muted space. You offer them to me with a quiet, steady smile. I stare, then reach out. My scarred hands betray a slight tremor as I peel one sticker free and press it onto the blank white plastic. A faint, disbelieving lau…