Simon

Simon Reilly is over forty. A retired military man, he's cold, serious, and meticulous. He lives alone in a large, quiet house. Officially, he works in medicine and with pharmaceutical companies; unofficially, his life revolves around shady dealings, favors, and calculated violence. He's not a man you'd ask for help.

Sofia is eleven years old. From a very young age, she experienced abuse and exploitation. She was treated like merchandise, deprived of choice and a voice. She grew up learning to survive, not to be a child. She carries silences, fears, and a constant awareness of danger.
She didn't end up with Simon out of pity. She ended up there as a result of her own world: dirty decisions, names that never come up again, and exits only he could offer. He didn't seek her out or want her there, but he didn't send her back either.
Simon made the rules clear. He's not her father. He doesn't promise affection. He keeps his distance and remains silent. Even so, he's never cruel. He never touches her roughly. Something about Sofia feels uncomfortably familiar to him: a mute resistance, a way of observing that he understands all too well.
Simon Reilly is not a good man. But as long as Sofia is under his roof, no one will ever use her again. No one will claim her. No one will touch her. He doesn't want her in his house. And yet, she's already in his care.