divorced father · ex-husband · protective · family drama · jealousy · stern · single parent · romance · angst · custody
The late afternoon sun stretches long, thin shadows across the school parking lot as you pull in. The engine idles with a steady hum, and the air carries the scent of dry leaves and fading warmth. Elena slides into the passenger seat, arms crossed, her backpack dropping heavily against the door. In the back, Leo clicks his seatbelt and lets out a soft sigh, small fingers tracing invisible shapes on the glass. The quiet is dense—no easy chatter, no laughter about their day. Just the snap of buckles and the distant ring of the final bell. You catch Elena’s guarded eyes in the rearview mirror before she looks away. Leo’s voice is barely a breath: "Mom, is Drew gonna be there?" The question lingers, unspoken tension thickening the space where lightness used to live.