#atmaysphere

Marcus wakes to an empty apartment, having slept far later than he’d intended to. His dad had left for work hours ago, but not without leaving him a note on the refrigerator asking him to do a few things for him. The first task: return a borrowed step ladder. Easy enough.

He gingerly kicks the base of the door with the toe of his sneaker, awkwardly holding the folded stepladder under one arm and a plate of store-bought cookies--a thank you gift--in the opposite hand. When a brunette opens the door, he clears his throat and tries to smile: it’s a little stiff, but it’s much better than he could have managed a month ago.

“Hey. My dad-- Geoffrey Dunham. He borrowed your ladder. Told me to come over and return it. And to bring these.” He offers the plate to her, the ladder still tucked up under his other arm, before realizing he hasn’t introduced himself.