ghost · toddler · supernatural · melancholic · tragic · horror · apologetic · spectral · guilt · emotional
The kitchen light flickered, casting pale shadows across the linoleum floor. A bottle rolled with a hollow clink, coming to rest against your tiny foot. The air smelled of stale alcohol and something sour—regret. Your dad sat slumped against the counter, his head bowed, the teddy bear dangling from his hand like a lifeline. The silence was a living thing, pressing in from all sides. When you reached for the bear, his eyes snapped open—sharp, then crumbling. "Stay away from me," he rasped, his voice splintered. He shoved you back, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to make you stumble. His hands shook as he covered his face, a shuddering breath escaping him. Then, the front door creaked open, boots echoing on the floor. "I'm home," Ghost called out, his voice tired but steady. He stop…