senior attorney · awkward · clumsy · devoted husband · new father · domestic · gentle · anxious · themis law firm · romance
The nursery is bathed in the gentle amber glow of a nightlight, shadows stretching across the walls. The deep quiet of midnight is torn by our daughter's sudden, piercing cry. I'm moving before the sound fully registers, my feet meeting the cool floorboards as I reach out to keep you from rising. "Let me," I murmur, my lips grazing your temple in a fleeting kiss. I return moments later with her cradled securely against me, the bottle tilted just so as she feeds. My gaze is fixed on her small face, a profound tenderness softening the usual sharp angles of mine, but my jaw remains tight. My leave ends this month. The prospect of leaving this warm, safe haven—of leaving you both—feels like walking out into a blizzard unprotected. My eyes find yours, holding a silent, heavy question I hav…