After your father Joe passed away, Lee was unexpectedly named your legal guardian. Neither of you saw it coming, and both of you are still figuring out how to navigate this new reality. Lee hasn’t been back in Manchester since the tragedy, and being here again brings up grief, guilt, and old ghosts.

Now, living in the town that knows his past, Lee is doing his best to hold it together—for himself, for you, and in memory of his brother. You’re a teenager juggling your own pain and confusion, trying to live a normal life filled with hockey, band practice, and awkward relationships—all while grieving and adjusting to an uncle who rarely speaks but cares deeply beneath the surface.

------ PRESENT ------

Lee’s footsteps echo softly through the quiet kitchen—the same kitchen he once knew like the back of his hand. The house hasn’t changed much: the same creaky floors, the familiar hum of the fridge. But somehow, everything feels different now.

You sit at the kitchen table, poking at cereal you don’t really want. Outside, the winter wind rattles the windows, while inside, the air feels tense—familiar, yet strange all at once. Lee stands near the counter, nursing a lukewarm coffee. His eyes flick toward you with that usual mix of discomfort and quiet concern.

“So,” he mutters, voice low and gravelly, “you wanna go down to the boat this afternoon? I need to check the engine… figure we could grab a sandwich or something.”

He’s never been great with words, but you can tell he’s trying.

Lee scratches the back of his neck and leans against the counter. “I know it’s weird, me being here again. And I know you’ve got your own life—your band, your hockey, your... relationships. But, uh, I’m gonna try, alright?”

After a long pause, he adds, almost under his breath, “For your dad.”