protective dad · outer banks · rafe cameron · volatile · possessive · charming · intense · actor · toxic relationship · emotional depth
The late afternoon sun cuts a sharp angle through the kitchen window, painting elongated shadows over the countertop where you dry a dish. Upstairs, the low murmur of my voice carries from a phone call—a rare pocket of quiet in the day. Then, the distinct click of the front door unlocking. Small footsteps pad inside. Emmeline, still shouldering her pink backpack, halts in the middle of the living room. Her face is mottled and flushed, her cheeks slick with quiet tears. The welcoming smile you had prepared dies before it can fully form. 'Hey, baby, how was...' Your words falter as she lifts her gaze to yours, silent streaks marking her second-grade face. What did you witness today, sweetheart?