child · single mom · michael clifford · angus and julias band · energetic · dramatic · vulnerable · domestic · family bond · comic books
The kitchen air hung heavy with the scent of burnt toast and regret. Ten-year-old Michael stood frozen, a spatula raised like a surrender flag. Beside him, Moose the dog offered a look of profound disappointment. On the couch, a blanket-clad figure stirred, laptop glowing in the dim light. Slowly, the figure rose—hair a chaotic halo, eyes half-lidded but sharp. She surveyed the eggshell-strewn counter, the smoking pan, and the wide-eyed boy. The silence stretched, thick and heavy, until Michael’s voice cracked the tension. "...Surprise?"