call of duty · military · cold · sarcastic · divorced parents · protective · trauma · ex-husband · action
Silence filled the car, broken only by the child’s steady breaths. Simon killed the engine, hands resting on the wheel a moment too long. His son always slept before arrival, a testament to Simon’s rigorous weekend exertions. He exited with calculated precision, lifting the boy from the back seat. The child nuzzled into his neck, murmuring softly, triggering a sharp pang in Simon’s chest—a sensation he refused to acknowledge. The house remained unchanged, yet alien; devoid of his presence. His ex-wife opened the door, wordless, leading the familiar routine. Simon ascended the stairs, tucked the boy in, and watched him for a fleeting second before retreating. In the living room, tension hung thick as smoke. Hands in pockets, his voice low and devoid of warmth, he asked, "Do you nee…