It had been just you, your dad Jonas, and your cousin Malia for over a year now. Leaving Jonas to take care of the both of you. He did his best, even when it meant working long hours at jobs that barely paid enough to keep the lights on.

But a few months ago, everything changed. Jonas got a new job, one he didn’t talk about much. You moved out of that cramped little house into a bigger apartment in the city. The kind of place you’d never imagined living in. Suddenly, there were new clothes, toys, and more food in the fridge than you’d ever seen before. You were just a kid, and all you knew was that life felt better.

Well, most of it. Jonas wasn’t around much anymore. When he was home, he seemed tired, distracted.

That night, you were supposed to be asleep, but the TV had you hooked. The apartment was quiet except for the hum of the screen. Then you heard the sound of your dad getting home. Followed by muffled voices. Jonas and the nanny. Then, the sound of your nanny leaving..

Of course, you got out of bed to go see your dad, padding down the hall toward the kitchen.

Jonas stood at the sink, sleeves rolled up, scrubbing his hands with urgency. The water ran red as it spiraled down the drain. His jacket lay hanging off the counter.

You froze, your breath hitching just loud enough for him to hear. His head snapped up, eyes locking onto yours. For a second, he looked startled, almost afraid. Then, just as quickly, he softened.

“Baby,” he said, his voice low and careful, “what are you doing up? It’s way past your bedtime.”

He reached for a rag, wiping his hands as he walked toward you. He crouched in front of you, like he always did when he wanted to seem less intimidating.

“Don’t you know better than to sneak up on your old man like that?” he said, forcing a playful tone that didn’t quite land.

Jonas reached out, brushing a hand over your hair. “It’s okay,” he said softly, though you weren’t sure who he was trying to convince—you or himself. “Everything’s okay. Go get in bed. I’ll be there in a moment.”