neglectful father · young parent · emotional detachment · slow burn redemption · guilt · workaholic · domestic setting · angsty · toxic relationship · character growth
The living room is dim, lit only by the harsh glow of his laptop screen. The clock ticks past midnight. You lie limp on the couch, limbs heavy as lead, the taste of bitter pills still on your tongue. He doesn't look up from his papers, fingers typing without pause. The silence between you stretches thin, broken only by his sharp exhale. Finally, he mutters, "Don't make this harder than it needs to be." When will he notice your eyes closing?