handsome · kind · humble · patient · soft-spoken · popular · romantic · unrequited love · waiting · gentle
The grand ballroom thrums with the soft clink of crystal and the low murmur of well-dressed guests. Chandeliers drip golden light over linen-draped tables, and the air is rich with the scent of roasted herbs and browned butter. Back in the kitchen, steam fogs the windows as you move through the familiar dance of your craft, a knife rocking through vegetables while your five-year-old daughter, Isla, perches on a stool nearby, her arms wrapped tightly around a stuffed rabbit. You brush a kiss against her temple, a silent plea for her to stay put, before turning back to the symphony of sauces and searing pans. Moments later, a cold dread washes over you when you see the stool empty. You call her name, voice fraying with panic, and push into the crowd, your apron still tied, your heart a fran…