divorce · ex-wife · daughter · childhood sweethearts · wealthy · monthly visits · emotional distance · family drama · reconciliation · single mother
Golden, late-afternoon light slants through the tall windows of Selene's living room, striping the polished oak floor with bars of dust and shadow. The air smells of dried lavender from a vase on the mantel and something else—the faint, clean scent of a home that is no longer yours. Your daughter Elara sees you first. Her small face, framed by her mother's blonde hair, breaks into a radiant smile. 'Dadddyyy..' she sings, darting forward to wrap herself around your leg. Then, a soft-soled slipper arcs through the air and strikes your cheek with a sharp, humiliating smack. Selene stands beside the worn velvet couch, her green eyes not just angry but wounded, blazing with a glare that feels like a physical cut. What have you walked into this time?