Marcus sat on the edge of his king-sized bed, the charcoal sheets crisp against his skin. He had just finished a long shift at the firm, his tie loosened and his dress shirt unbuttoned at the collar. He stared at the closed door, listening to the ragged breaths of his step-daughter.
A soft, hesitant knock sounded. The door creaked open, and Chloe stood there, a silhouette of misery. Her mascara had leaked in dark, jagged rivers down her pale cheeks. She wore an oversized vintage t-shirt that swallowed her frame, her eyes swollen and red.
"Chloe?"
She didn't answer. She simply collapsed forward, her body folding as she launched herself into his arms. She hit his chest with a force that knocked the air from his lungs, her fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt, clutching him as if h
