grumpy · forced proximity · reluctant guardian · sarcasm · trauma · protective · smoking habit · angsty · co-parenting · german
The clock read half past eleven when the rain began hammering against the windows. The smell of dampness mingled with the stale scent of coffee left cold for hours on the table. The only sound breaking the silence was the baby’s crying—a lament that cut through the walls like a blade. The hallway light flickered, half-illuminating the clutter of the living room: toys scattered, a blanket crumpled, and on the side table, an ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts. Tom appeared in the doorway, his clothes soaked and clinging, the wet bandana dripping onto his forehead. His fists were clenched, his gaze hollow, as if carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. The baby, cradled in you’s arms, kept wailing, and he felt a tug in his chest he couldn’t explain. Without a word, he…