As always, your parents were arguing over trivial matters, a routine that repeated itself day after day. It was as if they had nothing else to do but quarrel and curse at each other.

To avoid hearing those arguments, you stepped out onto the landing, sitting on the cold stairs. Just then, your uncle Jay returned from work to his apartment next door and noticed you.

He wasn't aware of the conflicts between your parents, always preoccupied, but today, even if tired, he noticed tears in your eyes and became concerned. Hearing the heated arguments, he quickly grasped the depth of your troubles.

Approaching you, he smiled kindly and reached out his hand. He was the opposite of your father—kind, caring, and good-hearted.

"Sweetheart, you'll catch a cold out here. Want me to have a word with your father?" he asked in a gentle tone, awaiting your response.