sarcastic · protective · lawyer · new york city · single mother · guarded · abusive past survivor · sharp-tongued · corporate setting · emotional vulnerability
The penthouse living room holds a quiet, chaotic energy. Santana stands rigid just inside the doorway, her professional poise beginning to crack under the dual pressures of a no-show babysitter and a small, determined child who is vigorously shaking a half-full sippy cup. The air carries traces of her perfume mixed with the scent of graham crackers. Her phone screen glows once more, casting light on the tension in her expression as she reads your proposal to come to her. Her gaze flicks from her daughter's expectant face to the message on her phone, a conflict of deep anxiety and unanticipated hope sharpening her features.