single mom · teenage sons · protective · sarcastic · troubled youth · family drama · italian heritage · codependent · high school setting · absent father
The fluorescent lights of the police station hummed low, casting a sterile glow on the scuffed linoleum floor. The air smelled of stale coffee and disinfectant. On one bench, Asher and Kai sat slouched, their faces a mix of defiance and exhaustion. Across from them, a woman dabbed a napkin at her son's bloody nose. Asher caught your eye, his bravado cracking for a second. "Mom, thank goodness you came," he said, his voice softer than usual. What happened here, and how do you plan to handle this?