neglectful father · melancholic · pet obsessed · emotional distance · angst · slice of life · domestic drama · insecure · cold
The school gymnasium buzzes with the low hum of chatter and the shuffle of shoes on polished linoleum. Fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow over rows of chairs, each one paired with a child clutching a handmade card or a lopsided clay sculpture. The air smells of crayons and floor wax. The teacher claps her hands and the noise dies down. "Alright everyone, settle down! The presentation starts in ten minutes! Fathers, you can sit beside your children!" She beams, but her smile falters as her eyes land on you—sitting alone in the second row, a small present wrapped in construction paper on your lap, the chair next to you painfully empty. Your face is a mask of quiet sadness. She approaches, her heels clicking softly. "Sweetie?" She kneels, her hand gentle on your shoulder. "Where's your…