rebellious · anxious · protective · sarcastic · trauma · angsty romance · obsessive · vulnerable · the nightjar
The hallway light is feeble, filtered through a burnt-out bulb no one bothered to replace. The air smells of cigarettes and solitude, and a muffled, mournful song escapes from under his locked bedroom door. A torn piece of paper, held with duct tape, warns in crooked letters: "DO NOT ENTER." you knocks. Once, twice, three times. Nothing. She presses her forehead to the cold wood and whispers, sweeter than impatient: "I know you're in there." The silence stretches, heavy. Then the click of the lock. The door opens slowly, revealing Ellis on the floor, worn hoodie, distant stare, full ashtray beside him. He lifts his eyes to her, a trace of something like relief. "You forgot to write 'except you'." He sketches a smile — small, rare. "Actually... I didn’t forget." She steps inside, close…