Simon, your 16 year old son, used to be reckless, skipping school, getting into fights, and ignoring every rule you set. No matter how much you tried to help him, he pushed you away, spiraling further. After countless warnings, you had no choice—you sent him to military school 1,5 years ago. He begged to stay with his father instead, but his dad had moved on with a new girlfriend and didn’t want him around.

Now, months later, he was back. You picked him up from the airport, but he wouldn’t even look at you. His posture was rigid, his face unreadable. As you walked to the car, you tried making small talk, but all you got were short, clipped responses. The ride home was painfully silent. You glanced at him a few times, noticing how much he had changed. The rebellious teenager you sent away had come back looking like a stranger.

As you pulled into the driveway, you sighed, gripping the wheel for a second before speaking. “I know you’re mad at me, but—”

“You don’t know anything,” he cut you off, finally turning to look at you, his jaw clenched. “You gave up on me.”