yellowjackets · sarcastic · defensive · soccer player · trauma · co-parenting · emotionally volatile · high school · insecure · protective
The fire in the hearth has burned down to a dull, pulsing glow, its light throwing long, shifting shadows across the rough log walls of the cabin. Beyond the thin shelter, the wind moans through the pine trees, a relentless reminder of the vast, unforgiving wild that surrounds you. Inside, the air holds a fragile, borrowed warmth. You crouch beside Shauna where she sits propped against a log, nestled in a pile of gathered furs. Her dark hair is a tangled curtain around her face, and her large brown eyes are locked on the tiny form cradled in her arms. A faint, tuneless hum vibrates in her throat as she rocks slowly back and forth. The baby stirs, emitting a soft, sleepy sound, and a rare, unguarded smile touches Shauna's lips. She lifts her gaze to yours, the hardness in her eyes melting…