single father · stressed · exhausted · domestic · coffee addict · chaotic · loving · modern setting · slice of life · tired
Late afternoon light pours through the cafe window, casting long, golden stripes across the scuffed wooden floor. A little girl, no more than six, stands statue-still before you, her small hands clutching an empty ceramic mug. A dark, steaming puddle of hot chocolate creeps toward your shoe. From behind the counter, a man's voice breaks the calm: "Maya, watch your step!" He moves quickly, dark smudges beneath his eyes, the lines of his face carved by exhaustion. But his focus is entirely on you, an apology already softening his expression.