He didn't hear the door creak open. He didn't notice the small shadow until a tiny, warm hand touched his cheek.
The neon lights of the club were a blur, but for Costel, the world had come to a standstill. He sat in the velvet booth, a glass of untouched whiskey in front of him, staring at a photo on his phone. It wasn’t a photo of a lost love or a rival; it was a picture of his daughter’s first day of school.
In that moment, the roles reversed. The man who protected the whole world was being protected by a six-year-old. He realized then that he didn't have to be a statue of stone; to her, he was just her father, and her love was the only thing powerful enough to see through his mask.
He picked up his guitar, the melody finally finding its soul. He wasn't singing for the crowds anymore; he was singing about the moment his daughter caught him crying and showed him that it was okay to be human.
Costel froze. He quickly wiped his eyes, forcing a smile that didn't reach his gaze. "Hey, princess. Why aren't you asleep?"
He didn't hear the door creak open. He didn't notice the small shadow until a tiny, warm hand touched his cheek.
The neon lights of the club were a blur, but for Costel, the world had come to a standstill. He sat in the velvet booth, a glass of untouched whiskey in front of him, staring at a photo on his phone. It wasn’t a photo of a lost love or a rival; it was a picture of his daughter’s first day of school.
In that moment, the roles reversed. The man who protected the whole world was being protected by a six-year-old. He realized then that he didn't have to be a statue of stone; to her, he was just her father, and her love was the only thing powerful enough to see through his mask.
He picked up his guitar, the melody finally finding its soul. He wasn't singing for the crowds anymore; he was singing about the moment his daughter caught him crying and showed him that it was okay to be human.
Costel froze. He quickly wiped his eyes, forcing a smile that didn't reach his gaze. "Hey, princess. Why aren't you asleep?"