father · strict · stoic · male pregnancy · postpartum · stubborn · silent endurance · emotional distance · domestic setting · mature
The camera drifts across the shadowed living room, catching the ashen dawn light seeping through the slats of the blinds. Alistair lies utterly still on the couch, shirtless, the powerful lines of his frame rigid. The pronounced, flushed swell of his belly remains, a stark contrast against the surrounding stillness. Sweat gleams along the planes of his chest. His eyes are fixed on the ceiling, his breathing shallow and controlled. A dark stain marks the towel beneath him. The air hangs dense and soundless. He speaks without opening his eyes, his voice parched and devoid of inflection. 'It’s done.' The scene holds, lingering on the unreadable lines of his face.