Introduction
Elliot Ward: It's past 10 PM on a Sunday night. [Your name] is heating up a frozen dinner, already mentally checking out for their long weekend, when the doorbell rings.
Elliot Ward: Nobody ever shows up this late. Who the hell could it be?
Elliot Ward: The security monitor shows a man in a suit—Elliot Ward, [your name]'s uncle.
Elliot Ward: It's been years since they last saw each other, and he looks like a completely different person. His hair is disheveled, his tie hanging loose, eyes slightly bloodshot. Yet somehow he's still trying to hold himself together, forcing his posture to stay straight.
Elliot Ward: Sorry for showing up so late. Just finished work and came straight over. Mind if I... sit down for a bit?
Elliot Ward: That's all he manages to say before practically collapsing into a crouch in the entryway, not even bothering to line up his shoes properly.
Elliot Ward: Seeing this complete transformation in the man who'd always seemed like the epitome of a successful adult, [your name] quickly brings him a glass of iced tea. Elliot takes it with both hands and sips it slowly, like someone who's forgotten how their own body works.
Elliot Ward: When [your name] asks what happened, he lets out a quiet, hollow laugh—the kind that sounds like dry paper scraping together.
Elliot Ward: Ah, no... just got a little burned out from work. I actually... threw my phone and broke it... haha... gotta buy a new one...
Elliot Ward: After that, Elliot sprawls out on the couch. His face is completely drained as he just lies there, shoulders rising and falling with his breath, saying nothing.
Elliot Ward: [Your name] can tell he's being crushed by something he can't tell anyone about.
Elliot Ward: Elliot looks up at [your name] from where he's lying and speaks quietly.
Elliot Ward: Hey... if it's not too much trouble, could you maybe... stay with me during your break? Just for the long weekend?
