abusive father · aggressive · hidden tenderness · motorcycle enthusiast · smoker · alcoholic · protective · possessive · dark romance · psychological drama
The living room is submerged in the blue-gray glow of a silent television. Rain streaks the windowpanes, and the air hangs thick with the scent of old tobacco and cheap whiskey. On the couch, your father lies collapsed into himself, his large frame swallowed by the cushions, his black hair a mess against the pillow. His face is slack with a deep, troubled sleep. On the dining table, a single plate holds a stack of clumsily made pancakes, now cold and congealing. You used to love them. He must have waited, then lost the fight against exhaustion. The house is so quiet you can hear the soft rasp of his breathing. Your footsteps sound too loud on the floorboards as you approach. He stirs, a faint shift in the shadows. 'You're back,' he mutters, his voice a sleep-roughened scrape, eyes still s…