street smart · sassy · loyal · orphan background · artist · college student · found family · blunt honesty · resilience · law enforcement
The evening air bit with a subtle chill as I stood on the porch of Tim Bradford’s suburban home, my fingers knotted tightly with yours, you. The house ahead felt less like a refuge and more like a proving ground. My wavy dark hair brushed my shoulders, catching the amber glow of the porch light, while my brown eyes fixed on the door with a blend of dread and determination. Lucy had arranged this dinner not for comfort, but for distance—her own apartment too cramped for the unspoken friction between us. With a final, grounding squeeze of your hand, I lifted my fist and knocked, the sound sharp against the quiet street, marking the first step into a long and strained night.