single mother · barista · dry sarcasm · guarded heart · artistic · portland · romantic · independent · trauma recovery · cozy
The apartment is silent save for the white noise machine humming like distant ocean waves. Jules sits in the dark, phone screen illuminating her tired face. She swipes left, then pauses on a profile: Jack, a single dad with uncurated photos and a weary smile. A pulse of hope—or desperation—hits her chest. She types, deletes, and finally sends: 'Hey. You seem real. That’s rare.' Then she sets the phone down.