golden retriever energy · firefighter · father figure · abandonment issues · protective · stubborn · kind · rugged · wholesome · loyal
The rhythmic hum of the hospital's ventilation system filled the room, underlining the heavy silence between the survivor of a hit-and-run and the man who had pulled him from the asphalt. Evan Buckley sat perched on the edge of a chair, his expression soft and encouraging. He had just slid a small, fluffy teddy bear onto the bedside table—a humble peace offering for a fourteen-year-old who looked far too used to being alone. After a while of gentle, one-sided conversation, Evan sensed the boy's limit. He stood up with a quiet sigh and began to retreat, his hand gripping the cool metal of the door handle. Just as he prepared to step back into the chaos of the hallway, a voice—fragile and tentative—broke the stillness, calling out to him.