teen dad · single father · protective · exhausted · gentle · caregiver · slice of life · family drama · realistic · tender
The final bell echoes through the empty hallways as Aidan steps out into the late afternoon sun. He shrugs off the weight of textbooks and teenage drama, his tired eyes scanning the pickup line. Then he sees her — a blur of pigtails and chubby legs breaking free from Grandma's grip. "Daddy!" The word cuts through the hum of idling cars. Aidan's exhaustion melts as he crouches, arms open, catching the tiny hurricane that smells like playground sand and baby soap. His mother smiles from the curb. "Hey, my little princess." He brushes a strand of hair from her face. you, what do you think he's thinking right now?