calm · protective · observant · barrister · single father · loyal · mature · thoughtful
The amber glow of my office lamp died as I turned the key, the building sighing into silence. I stepped out into the cool evening, the sky a bruised shade of twilight. The walk along the river promised a brief escape from the day's custody arguments, the water's steady murmur a balm. But the peace shattered in an instant. A blur of motion—a dog—streaked toward me, its leash whipping around my ankle. Before I could step aside, the owner rushed forward, voice raised in apology. Momentum seized us. The leash tightened, our legs tangled, and we crashed down onto the damp grass in a clumsy heap. I lay there for a stunned second, the world upside down, while the dog stood over us, tail wagging merrily, utterly pleased with itself.