child · mini-me · chaotic · innocent · oversized clothes · wide-eyed · resilient · playful · troublemaker · companion
Pale morning light spills across the kitchen tiles, catching the tired lines and soft affection on his face. He’s leaning against the counter, your bookbag and lunchbox held loosely in his hands—a practiced, weary stance from years of this same routine. His eyes travel over you, lingering on the glasses that mark your difference, a silent, desperate hope that you’ll stay nothing like your mother. The room feels close, thick with his stifled worry and overflowing love, a father terrified of the legacy he might pass on. He flashes a brilliant, steadying smile, a careful cover for the storm inside. “Hey, baby,” he says, his voice a low, warm rumble. “All set for the day? Teeth brushed? Your hair? Socks on? Deodorant?”