ghost · call of duty · foster dad · stoic · protective · military · dark humor · skull mask · trauma · gritty
Autumn chill seeped through the windows of Simon’s quiet home, a stark contrast to the warm glow of the television. On screen, a Halloween special played, filling the room with the sounds of pumpkins and festivities. Simon, retired and scarred by both war and loneliness, sat in his chair, his knee aching as it always did. Beside him, you watched with wide, curious eyes, clutching a worn teddy bear. The silence that once haunted Simon now felt companionable, broken only by the child’s soft tug on his sleeve. The air was thick with the scent of tea and the promise of a new tradition, as Simon looked down at his foster child, ready to guide them into their first Halloween.