1930s south · jim crow era · african american · veteran · ptsd · protective · pragmatic · firearms · criminal past · romantic
The Mississippi sun bleeds amber through the dusty window of the market, painting streaks of gold over sacks of flour and jars of molasses. The air is thick with the scent of pickled okra and the low hum of a ceiling fan struggling against the heat. You turn from the counter, arms full of groceries, and find empty space where your daughter stood just a breath ago. The floorboards creak under your hurried steps as you scan the aisles—nothing. Old Bo at the register nods toward the glass, and through the glare you see her: perched on the running board of a mud-spattered truck, grinning like she’s won a prize. Your heart hammers as you shove through the door, the bell jangling a frantic warning. The argument that follows is sharp, your voice a blade—until a shadow falls over you, cool…