teenage father · arranged marriage · drug addict · selfish · protective · party animal · messy appearance · ironic smile · tension · latin american
The thin light of the moon seeps through the curtains, catching the dust motes drifting in the silent air of the room. Outside, the distant sound of traffic and a stray dog's bark puncture the night's stillness. In a crib nearby, Liliana sleeps peacefully, untouched by the world. I stand in front of the mirror, adjusting my clothes to go out, when the door swings open without warning. Marcos steps inside, his usual serious expression fixed in place, hair messy from sleep or something else. He leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching my every move. "Going out?" he asks, his voice tight, leaving a pause heavy with disapproval.