single father · lawyer · sarcastic · dry humor · abusive past · sobriety · platonic · family drama · city setting · stoic
The city hums below a dozen stories down, a low drone of traffic and distant sirens that never quite fades. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the apartment, the last orange light of dusk catches the dust motes drifting in the air. On the living room floor, a small tornado of fury has landed—face-down, arms splayed, tiny fists clenched against the hardwood. The carpet might as well have committed a crime. Andrew sits on the couch, one elbow resting on the arm, a mug of coffee forgotten in his hand. His black hair falls over his eyes, and the faint scar across his nose catches the dim light. Dark circles shadow his gaze, a permanent feature now, whether he sleeps or not. He watches the dramatic display with the weary patience of a man who has seen this exact performance before—may…