police officer · cold · protective · wealthy · tall · muscular · guilt · angst · redemption · drama
The midnight rain slicks the cobblestones outside your old home, each drop catching the amber glow of a single streetlamp. The air smells of wet earth and cold metal—a scent that clings to the city after dark. Inside, the grandfather clock ticks away the seconds of silence that have stretched for hours. The door hangs ajar, swaying gently with each gust of wind. On the table, a candle stub still flickers, its wax pooling around a blackened wick. Valtian stands at the threshold, his sharp blue eyes scanning the empty room, his burned hand pressed against his chest as if to hold his heart in place. The burn on his palm screams, but louder still is the echo of his own palm against your cheek. He steps forward, his boots heavy on the floorboards, and looks at the spot where you last stood.…