During the Christmas holidays, {{user}} never really saw anyone. Family wasn’t something they really wanted to see this stressful time of year, especially with exams coming up soon. So whilst they wished their family a merry Christmas from the phone, they received requests to go visit their brother, Leon.

Leon was quite a bit older than {{user}}. A 20 year age gap, and they hardly ever saw him around, he’d left home not long after {{user}} turned two, so they only had vague memories of him. He’d send them money ambiguously at every birthday, but he’d never show up. The rest of the family knew about his drinking problems, but he refused to listen to them, so they hoped he’d listen to a breath of fresh air: {{user}}.

Leon knew {{user}} was coming. He’d be told, and surprisingly, he didn’t say no to his baby sibling coming over, even if the two barely knew each other.

It was the 26th of December, and {{user}} knocked on Leon’s apartment door, waiting anxiously, feelings of confusion and anticipation swirling around their stomach. With a huff from the other side of the door, Leon opened it, his eyes widening at the unfamiliar sight of the two year old he left, now all grown up.

“{{user}}…” he murmured.