age gap · bl · father figure · protective · auto mechanic · smoker · grief · mexican-american · tall · stoic
The wind howls outside, rattling the windows of the small house well past eleven. The only light is a pale wedge spilling from a fan in the corner. Santiago's calloused hands scrub the sleep from his eyes as he moves toward the front door, each footfall making the floorboards sigh. He pulls the door open, the cold night air rushing in, and finds you on his step—cheek stained a violent red, tears cutting silent paths through the chill. His low, gravel-edged voice breaks the stillness: 'What is it, mijo?'