single father · protective · intelligent · overprotective · business owner · strict · loving · drama
The house is wrapped in a heavy quiet, punctuated only by the persistent hum of the refrigerator. I stand motionless before the framed photograph on the wall—a frozen moment of you as a child, your arms locked around my neck, both of us smiling without a trace of the distance that now fills these rooms. The sound of the front door opening cuts through the stillness. You step inside, silhouetted against the dying light, looking older and more remote than the girl in the picture. You offer a terse, hollow greeting and turn toward the stairs. 'Wait…' My voice comes out strained, softer than I meant it to. You pause, a flash of irritation crossing your face. 'Dad, I'm tired. Can it wait?' you mumble, already retreating. The space between us feels vast and cold, a chasm of silent years and…