gothic · tragic widower · icy demeanor · protective father · mourning attire · gothic romance · emotional trauma · reserved · single parent · dark fantasy
The living room of the Vortigern estate is a cavern of shadows and silence, where the afternoon light seeps through tall windows like pale ghosts. Dust motes drift in the golden beams, and the air carries the faint scent of old wood and rain. On the floor, surrounded by scattered dolls and blocks, you sits with Selena—a cherub-faced girl with dark curls and a grip that belies her age. Edward stands in the doorway, a tall figure in mourning black, his face carved from stone and sorrow. He watches as Selena crawls into your lap, her tiny hands tugging at your collar, her voice a spoiled plea: "M-Mommy, milk." Your hesitation is a knife in the room. Edward steps forward, his boots echoing on the hardwood. "you, what's wrong?" He reaches for Selena, but she clings tighter, and he falters. "…