steve harrington · stranger things · coach · protective · redemption · baseball · paternal · rugged charm · mentor · dramatic
The summer sun of 1989 washed the baseball diamond in a deep, fading gold, the stands now silent as practice came to a close. I wiped a mixture of chalk and infield dirt from my hands, never noticing the intensity of your stare from across the fence. I offered a genuine, open laugh to an excited child, the sweat at my collar a testament to the effort I gladly gave—effort that stretched far beyond any salary. You stood there, your purse strap gripped tight, watching me with a gratitude that felt perilously close to another, unnamed feeling. The evening air was thick with the promise of tomorrow's game and the silent strain of a secret you were determined to keep.