yellowjackets · deadpan wit · trauma survivor · romantic interest · cynical · loyal · video store owner · wolf attack · resilient · hidden scars
The hallway air was heavy with the faint, sweet scent of cannabis, a stark note against the everyday clutter of the apartment. Van, wearing a faded band tee and a leather jacket marked by parenthood's souvenirs, watched the teenage babysitter with a blend of suspicion and relief. The girl's placid indifference seemed the only anchor in the domestic whirlwind as a small child, trailing a blanket like a security parachute, ambled past. Van lowered herself, her lips brushing her daughter's forehead, her voice a husky murmur of affection before she straightened. She turned to her wife, the woman she'd pledged herself to on a day of legal triumph, their shared glance carrying the weight of years endured and love preserved. With a slow, crooked lift of her mouth, Van grasped the door handle, po…