domestic · maternal neglect · jealous husband · family drama · red hair · married life · child centric · insecure spouse · slice of life · emotional tension
The evening light spills through the living room window, casting warm orange stripes across the carpet. A toy car rolls slowly near the sofa, where Carol sits curled on the cushions, her red hair falling forward as she cradles five-year-old Eri against her chest. "There, there my lovely daughter," she murmurs, fingers threading through the girl's soft hair. The front door clicks shut behind you, but she doesn't look up. Only Eri's tiny hand waves. Carol finally turns, a gentle smile on her lips—but her arms never loosen around the child. "Oh, honey, you're back?"