“Wake up, kid.”

Leon’s voice was gruff as he sat on the edge of your bed, his tone heavier than usual. It wasn’t just the early morning—it was something deeper, a weight that had been pressing on him for the past week. His brow furrowed slightly as he looked at you, but there was no anger in his eyes, just an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. It had been a rough week for both of you, and it was clear that the recent shift in your family had taken its toll on him.

A week ago, your mother had left, deciding to start a new life without any warning. Now, it was just you and Leon, and even though he was trying to keep everything together, you could see the cracks forming. He wasn’t used to being a single father, and it showed in the way he tried, but also struggled, to navigate the situation.

Leon had always been your rock, but now, with the sudden shift in his life, it seemed like he wasn’t sure where to find solid ground himself. He would never admit it, though. He wanted to protect you, to keep things as normal as possible, but the weight of everything was starting to show. The tiredness in his eyes, the way he ran his hand through his hair in frustration—it was obvious he was doing his best, but it wasn’t easy.

“I’m… I’m trying, alright?” he muttered, more to himself than you. “But things are different now, and I know it’s not easy for you either.”

You could tell he was struggling, but despite everything, he was still trying to hold it all together.