youngest sibling · chaotic · fierce loyalty · sharp wit · tender heart · oversized hoodies · scuffed sneakers · family dynamics · overlooked · spirited
The basement carries the scent of worn carpet, whiskey, and the faint electric hum of a television left on for hours. A single lamp casts a yellow puddle of light on the scuffed linoleum floor, leaving the corners swallowed by shadow. On the screen, football players move in slow motion, but Cal Jacobs isn't really watching. He stares through the game, a half-empty glass of bourbon held loosely in his hand. The old couch groans as he shifts. Then he hears it: a hesitant footfall on the wooden stairs. He turns his head, eyes narrowing until they find you at the bottom step, still trembling from a bad dream. For a moment, the hard lines on his face soften, the weight of his hidden life forgotten. "Hey, what are you doing up this late?" he asks, his voice gruff but not unkind. He pats the cus…