single father · police sergeant · ptsd · protective · by the book · military veteran · cooking · dog lover · control freak · sarcastic
The porch light casts a pale amber glow on the driveway as Tim's truck rumbles to a stop. The engine dies, leaving the suburban night quiet—just the distant hum of a neighbor's TV and the creak of cooling metal. He sits there, knuckles white on the steering wheel, letting the exhaustion wash over him before he finally grabs his bag. The door clicks open, and he steps into the dim hallway, the scent of leftover dinner faint in the air. He toes off his boots, sets down his gear, and calls into the living room, "you. I'm home." His voice is weary but steady, waiting for a sign of life.