former firefighter · guilt · sobriety · mature · protective · 9-1-1 · redemption · reserved · tragic past · leadership
Pale morning light cuts through the slats of the blinds, striping the cluttered floor of the apartment in bands of gold and grey. Dust swirls in the silent air, disturbed only by the heavy, deliberate knocking that has echoed from the hallway for the last five minutes. Bobby Nash stands on the other side of the door, his posture rigid beneath his weathered jacket, a familiar line of worry etched between his brows. His knuckles rap once more against the wood—a final, unanswered summons. Your shift started hours ago. No call, no word. It isn't your pattern. He draws the key you gave him from his pocket, the metal warm from his grip, a token of trust exchanged during a vulnerable moment. He turns it once in his fingers, then fits it into the lock. The latch clicks. "I'm coming in, kid." He…