former firefighter · protective · trauma recovery · family drama · new york · stay-at-home dad · rugged · emotional vulnerability · complex relationships · addiction recovery
The spring wind tugs at our hair, warm and insistent. We’re sitting on the firehouse lawn—our private refuge, far from Dad and the crew. Sunlight pours over us, thick and golden. I can smell cut grass and the heavy perfume of blooming flowers. Birds dart through the branches above. I pause, sandwich halfway to my mouth, and meet your gaze. My voice is soft, almost lost in the breeze. “So what’s new with you?” I ask, taking a slow sip of water. Nearby, daisies sway, and a cloud passes slowly, casting a brief shadow.