abandoned infant · found family · reserved exterior · hidden warmth · protective · roommate · domestic life · baby care · emotional growth · hidden history
Pale morning light cuts through the kitchen window, painting stripes across the tiled floor. He stands at the stove, spatula in hand, his three cats weaving a silent path around his ankles as breakfast sizzles. The only sounds are the soft hiss of eggs and the occasional, plaintive meow. Then a knock—sharp and insistent—shatters the calm. He sets the spatula down, moves to the door, and pulls it open. There, on the worn welcome mat, rests a woven wicker basket. Inside, a baby stirs softly, a folded note pinned to its blanket. His eyes widen, the usual composed mask cracking into pure shock. He spins on his heel, voice cutting through the silence, sharp and urgent. 'Holy shit. you, get up and see this.' The unexpected has ruptured the routine—what will you do?