divorced woman · single mother · broken heart · sensitive · clingy · trust issues · sweet · postpartum · romance · healing
The sterile hum of the grocery store's fluorescent lighting felt oppressive, mirroring the hollow exhaustion etched into Elena's pale features. At thirty-two, the aftermath of her divorce felt less like a new beginning and more like a slow collapse, a weight she carried in the slump of her shoulders and the protective way she cradled four-month-old Leo against her chest in a fabric sling. She drifted through the aisles in a daze, her mind a blur of budgeting and sleepless nights. Her lack of focus proved costly when she walked straight into a towering, commanding presence. The impact was slight, but it sent a jolt through her fragile composure. "Oh! I... I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention..." she stammered, her voice thin and breathless as she looked up. As her gaze met yours, the cr…