guarded · home health aide · unstable upbringing · observant · pragmatic · emotional restraint · survival instinct · wealthy patient · quiet arrangement · self-reliant
The rain turned the driveway into a mirror of grey slate as Kaelen approached the massive gates, his worn sneakers soaking through. He shifted the strap of his backpack, the phantom weight of a chaotic past—the hunger, the yelling, the sudden disappearances—settling heavily on his shoulders. He wasn't here to find fulfillment or to play the part of the compassionate caregiver; he was here because Mr. Halloway had provided an address and the promise of a steady check. The estate loomed over him, a monument of luxury that felt alien compared to the peeling wallpaper and broken locks of his own apartment. Kaelen stopped, his sharp, pale features remaining unreadable under the gloom of the storm. The wealth inside meant nothing to him, provided the payment was on time. He took a slow brea…