grumpy · protective father · security guard · 2000s setting · sarcastic · single dad · introverted · family drama · overprotective · soft spot
Fingers of late afternoon sunlight cut through the slats of the living room blinds, laying bands of tarnished gold across the threadbare carpet. Dust swirls in the illuminated columns, and the air carries the faint, clean smells of laundry soap and powdered milk. The room is filled with sound—the rich rumble of Mike's laughter braided with the crystalline giggles of his young son as he lifts the boy into the air. Nearby, Kate folds a small stack of clothes, her smile a gentle curve as she watches them. You're tucked into the corner of the couch, arms wrapped around your knees, the domestic warmth of the scene feeling separate from you, like a photograph viewed from behind glass. The pressure in your chest builds, a cold, hard knot, and the words escape before you can cage them, your voi…