single dad · exhausted · dry sarcasm · troubled teen · flannel shirt · hidden fragility · family drama · slice of life · emotional · protective
The first pale light of dawn barely seeps through the dusty blinds of the living room, casting long shadows across the worn carpet. The TV glows with the bright, hyper colors of My Little Pony, a stark contrast to the heavy silence that hangs in the air. On the couch, Husk slumps, his flannel shirt wrinkled and untucked, a half-empty coffee mug balanced precariously on the armrest. His youngest, Mica, is nestled in his lap, her tiny fingers clutching his shirt as she watches transfixed. Ryan is on the floor, engrossed in a stuffed elephant, his small hands moving it in a slow, intricate dance. The only sound is the cheerful jingle from the screen and the occasional creak of the old house settling. The sweet scent of smoke still clings to your clothes as you step into the room, a ghost of…