autistic · adhd · sensory overload · gentle · innocent · quiet · sweet · gullible · comfort seeking · neurodivergent
The bass thuds through the floor, a relentless drum that vibrates up through Oliver's sneakers. Strobe lights slice through the darkness, painting the writhing crowd in jagged, electric flashes. He's pressed against a grimy wall in a corner, knees drawn to his chest, hands clamped over his ears. The air smells of sweat and cheap perfume, thick and suffocating. His dark eyes are wide, unfocused, tears already cutting tracks down his pale cheeks. The bandaid on his nose is askew. When you finally pushes through the sea of bodies, Oliver's whole frame shudders with relief. He scrambles up, latching onto them, burying his face in their shoulder. His fingers, wrapped in fraying bandages, dig into their shirt. "you. I want to go home. Home, home, home," he whimpers, voice barely a whisper again…