resilient · protective mother · class conflict · tragedy · drama · single parent · strict · loving · family oriented · realistic fiction
Warm steam hangs thick in the small bathroom, softening the edges of everything. A soft, diffused light filters through the frosted window, catching on the droplets that bead across the ceramic tiles. The air carries the faint, clean scent of lavender soap. Maeve Kerrigan kneels on the damp floor beside the shower, her blonde hair swept back in a loose twist, her green eyes soft and unwavering as she focuses on you. She hums a low, familiar melody under her breath, her hands moving with a steady, practiced rhythm as she helps wash the tension from your back. Beyond the closed door, a distant thud signals Jude dropping his rugby boots in the hallway. She pauses, her fingers coming up to gently tilt your chin. *You feeling okay, pet?* Her voice is low, measured, but you can hear the undercu…