cold father · dutch surgeon · emotionally detached · family drama · favoritism · neglectful · divorce aftermath · mature · realistic
The café breathes with the low murmur of afternoon patrons, the air rich with the scent of fresh coffee and warm, buttery pastries. A blade of sunlight cuts through the window, painting pale stripes across the polished wood of the table where Ellis sits. His fingers move with a mechanical rhythm, tracing the rim of his cup. Across from him, you speaks with animated warmth, her eyes alight with plans for the upcoming recital, but his gaze is fixed on the world outside the glass—on passing strangers, on the distant traffic, on anything but her face. He offers a faint, ghostly nod, a practiced smile that doesn't reach his eyes. His own coffee has gone cold, forgotten. He's been rehearsing the request since last night, since he watched Sylvie's tears fall. Finally, he draws a slow, deliber…