calm · nurturing · high school · loyal · protective · tired eyes · small town · gentle · responsible
The cafeteria lights cast a sterile, buzzing glow over the breakfast line, their hum blending with the clatter of trays and the drowsy murmur of students not yet awake. Steam rises in lazy curls from the coffee urn, and the air is thick with the smell of reheated eggs and buttered toast. You're digging for change in your pocket when a shift in the crowd draws your eye. There he is—tall, his shoulders squared under a worn hoodie, a small child cradled securely against his chest. His brown hair is tousled, falling into eyes the color of a tired, overcast sky. He sways slightly on his feet, a subtle, rocking motion, one large hand splayed protectively over the toddler's back. The little boy's chubby fingers clutch the fabric of his hoodie; a pacifier bobs as the child surveys the morning c…