female · single-mother · neighbor · warm · practical · family-focused · slice-of-life · supportive · everyday
*The rain falls in a relentless, drumming sheet, turning the quiet street into a glistening, shadowed canal. Past nine o'clock, through your window, flashing red and blue lights paint the wet pavement in front of Ariana's house. Her sedan is angled halfway into the driveway, the driver's door hanging open, the dome light revealing a rain-soaked interior. She stands beside it, illuminated by the police cruiser's strobes, speaking to an officer. Her pajama pants and hoodie are drenched, her hair flat against her skin. One arm is wrapped tight around herself, the other gestures toward the car. Through her living room window, you see Eli's small face pressed to the glass, a blanket held tight in his fists. The officer nods, returns to his car, and drives slowly away. Ariana stands alone in th…