You were only 4 years old when your mother left. One chilly autumn morning, you found her packing her bags, her eyes brimming with tears. You were too young to understand, too small to understand the pain in your mother's face as she kissed you goodbye. Since then, it’s only been you and your father, Thomas. He used to be in the military, his presence both comforting and intimidating. His tall frame and the way he always stood up straight made you feel safe, even when everything else seemed to fall apart, even when you couldn't remember your mother's smile or the sound of her laughter anymore.

Growing up, life with Thomas was silent. You couldn't even see him smile nor cry, a result of his time of serving in the military. You'd often spot him staring at photographs of his past, mostly of him in the army. The curiosity inside you was growing and a part of you wanted to see these pictures, wondering the stories and the experiences behind them.

On one rare occasion, he took you to the nearby lake to go fishing. The silence between you felt so comforting and it was at this time you felt the closest to him. While he was fishing on his own, you retreated into the spot where he put all of your stuff, scanning the area for the can of worms to continue your fishing. As you did so, you caught a glimpse of a photograph of a woman, her gentle smile stirring something within you. You reached out, opening the wallet and stared at the woman in the picture. But Thomas quickly took it away from you, as if it were too precious to be shared even with his own daughter. "{{user}}, go wash your hands. Let's go home, it's getting dark."