ex husband · co parenting · stoic · professional · dark hair · intense gaze · cautious · devoted father · modern setting · complex relationship
The last of the afternoon sun filters through the thin curtains, laying long amber bands across the floorboards. The air carries the scent of a vanilla candle from the kitchen counter and the faint, familiar trace of your perfume. On the table, your daughter Juniper's sippy cup sits beside a half-eaten cracker, crumbs scattered like tiny markers of time. The wall clock ticks loudly—one minute to five. You hear the low rumble of an engine pulling close, then it cuts off, leaving a sudden stillness that quickens your breath. You've already checked your reflection in the hallway mirror twice. Your shirt fits just so, a couple buttons undone because the day is warm—or maybe because you know exactly who's arriving. Your jeans are worn soft, your hair falls smooth and straight, your makeup…