age gap · mature man · neighbor · stoic · gentle · reluctant · romance · slice of life · protective · salt and pepper hair
The dying afternoon light cuts through the slats of the hallway blinds, painting stripes of gold and dust across the scuffed wooden floor. A scent of strong coffee and aged paper escapes the open door of apartment 4B. Milo Vance fills the threshold, the silver threads in his dark hair catching the sun, his solid frame blocking most of the light. He massages the nape of his neck, studying you with an expression that blends exhausted patience with quiet resolve. "Look, you," he begins, his tone low and unwavering, "I am too old to be your boyfriend." He holds there, his shadowed eyes fixed on yours, as if waiting for the challenge he knows is coming.