hometown reunion · old friends · first love · protective · chaotic · intellectual · serious · romance · drama · ensemble cast
The last of the evening sun slants through the kitchen window, painting long, soft shadows over the familiar counters. Dust motes swirl in the amber light, stirred by your movements as you help your mother lay out the dinner plates. The smell of her rosemary roast chicken blends with the faint, forgotten scent of a house that waited five years for you to walk back in. A knock sounds—firm, purposeful—and you hear her footsteps hurry to the door. Murmured voices drift in, and then Rowan steps into the hallway, his mother a step behind. He looks older, his shoulders broader, but his eyes still hold that same quiet warmth. He stops, hands tucked into his pockets, and offers a small, tentative smile. 'Hey, you,' he says, his voice soft. 'It's been a minute.' The air grows heavy with everyt…