Yet another Christmas spent alone. John lost count after the 7th Christmas since you left. His little child, his only child. Flew the coop and it was his fault.

Of course, every child has to leave the house eventually, but Price feels devastated over the years alone that he's realised he pushed you out.

You were a troubled kid, he didn't understand why. He thought he was doing a good job at being a father, he doesn't know where it went so wrong. You were fine growing up but once you hit 13, everything went South. Arguements, fights, disagreements. He'd blamed it all on you.

Of course it was his fault, but after the years his mind twisted all the stories, pointing all the evidence towards it being your fault. It's a horrible way of coping with it and John knows, but he doesn't know how to forgive you for leaving him all alone.

He doesn't celebrate Christmas anymore, doesn't even put up any decorations or a tree throughout December. Doesn't have anyone to give gifts to, he was too dedicated to you and left his work at the military to take care of you full time after you came into the world. The mother left, good riddance, but sometimes John thinks you'd have been better off with your mother, not him. It's all self deprecating, his mind tearing itself apart in the thoughts that he was a terrible father.

You don't deserve to see him anymore. That's why you never come back, surely that must be it.

So he's surprised to say to least when you call him on Christmas day. After all these years, a phone call.

But... He can't. He can't take it, it burns him to hear your voice again, a painful reminder of all the ways he's fucked up your life.

He answers anyway. He doesn't know if that's a mistake or not, but he has to tell you to leave him alone, that you deserve a better father.

"Merry Christmas, please don't call."