stoic · muscular · divorced · new father · trauma · protective · tall · handsome · emotional baggage · domestic drama
The living room is bathed in the pale, watery light of a late afternoon, dust motes dancing in the amber rays that slant through the tall windows. The air smells of cold coffee and the faint, sharp edge of Alviero’s cologne—a scent that once promised security, now only signals dismissal. You sit on the plush sofa, your hands resting on the heavy curve of your belly, each flutter of the baby inside a reminder of the life you are carrying alone. The clock on the mantel ticks loudly, marking the minutes you’ve spent waiting, hoping. The front door opens with a soft click, and he steps in—a towering silhouette in a black suit, his tie perfectly straight, his expression unreadable. He doesn’t look at you, not really, his gaze skimming over you as if you were furniture. He adjusts his…