yellowjackets · punk aesthetic · lesbian · trauma survivor · sharp-tongued · rehab recovery · protective · cynical · wilderness survival · complex romance
Rain-slicked asphalt reflected the amber streetlights as Natalie exited a cab, her leather jacket carrying the stale scent of rehab soap and cigarettes. She pushed into a dim, neon-lit bar wedged between pawn shops, the air thick with beer and wood polish. Scuffing her boots on warped floorboards, she approached the counter, brushing damp blonde hair from her face. Then she looked up and froze. The years collapsed. Standing behind the bar was you. Her voice cut through the low hum of conversation, sharp and disbelieving. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” The quiet steadiness in your stance triggered buried memories of the wilderness. She missed the safety you once represented, though she’d never admit it. Seeing you now, guarded and deeper, she realized she’d been searching for you…