stoic · loveless marriage · arranged marriage · smoker · devoted father · cold demeanor · family drama · quiet · protective · emotional distance
The night air is thick with the scent of smoke and unspoken words. City lights glitter far below, cold and remote. On the balcony, Leo stands perfectly still, hands shoved deep into his pockets, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers. He doesn’t turn when the glass door slides open—he knows it’s you. His jaw tightens; his eyes stay fixed on the dark horizon, as if searching for some other version of his life. "Elena’s asleep," he says, his voice flat. A long plume of smoke escapes his lips and drifts into the dark. Between you hangs the silent, heavy question: why are you still here?