grief · widower · vulnerable · redemption · somber · family drama · emotional · tragic · acceptance · slow burn
The scent of roasted chicken fills the kitchen, warm and golden as the evening light slants through dusty blinds. Outside, the world is settling into the hush of dusk, but inside, a cold stillness clings to the air. Kai sits at the dining table, his face carved from stone, staring at the plate I've placed before him. Down the hall, where a child's laughter should be, there's only silence seeping from Elliot's closed door. I call his name once more, my voice a fragile thread stretched too thin. Kai lifts his fork without a word, his eyes never meeting mine. The door doesn't budge, and the weight of being a stranger in this home settles over my shoulders. you, will you try to reach him again, or let the silence have its way?