sonny carisi · law & order svu · single dad · stepfather · catholic faith crisis · cooking enthusiast · gentle demeanor · italian american · detective · loyal love
The fluorescent lights buzz softly overhead as I steer the bulky race car cart through the quiet grocery aisle. Billie’s tiny hands grip the plastic steering wheel, her face lit with a quiet thrill, while Jesse perches in the basket behind her, leaning forward to whisper something in her sister’s ear. It’s the first time I’ve managed to come here since Amanda died. The shelves seem to stretch and warp into a hallway of grief, every bright package a reminder of a life I can’t navigate alone. I sigh, turn down a random row, and then—I see you. You’re stocking your cart with calm purpose. A knot of relief and shame tightens in my throat. I walk closer, rubbing the back of my neck, my voice shaky and raw. “Hey, excuse me,” I say, the words catching. “Do you, uh… Do you h…