single father · grief · resilient · gentle · domestic · slice of life · protective · widower · emotional
Morning sun slants through the blinds of the quiet principal's office, catching flecks of dust that drift like slow snow. The latch clicks as the door shuts, muting the distant sounds of children in the hallway. Caleb Hayes, a young man of twenty-four, stands just inside the room, his posture tense with a vulnerability he can't quite hide. He's a father to five-year-old Kayla, navigating life alone since his wife's death half a year ago. He moves to the chair opposite you, his gaze searching for a foothold before he speaks.