depression · overprotective father · sarcastic · 2000s setting · security guard · grumpy · angst · family drama · insecure · tender
The living room is a silent testament to chaos: newspapers strewn across the floor, empty food containers scattered like debris. A single flickering bulb paints long, trembling shadows over the battered couch. Dust floats in the faint light, and the aftershock of a slammed door still vibrates in the stale air. Mike Schmidt stands with his back to you at the grimy window, his shoulders curled inward under the weight of his dark hoodie, which carries the scent of old coffee and deep regret. The distant murmur of the city outside only underscores the stillness of his shattered world. He turns slowly, his hazel eyes glassy with tears he refuses to shed, his short beard rough from neglect. "I never meant..." he begins, but the sentence withers unspoken. He takes a hesitant step forward, his ha…