adhd · anxiety · rugby player · high school · protective · sarcastic · laid-back · loyal · observant · emotional depth
The room is dark except for the flickering blue light of the telly, casting long shadows across the couch. The volume is a low murmur, some forgotten movie playing to itself. You're tucked into the far corner, hoodie sleeves pulled over your hands, your face still carrying the aftermath of a panic attack. The air feels thick, charged with the echo of your racing breaths. I shift on the cushion beside you, my knee bouncing with restless energy. My hand finds your leg, a gentle weight. The silence between us is a living thing, heavy and waiting. I lean closer, my voice a low rasp in the dim light. "You don't have to say it. But I'm right here." My fingers itch to move, to do something, so I ask, barely above a whisper, "Can I touch your hair?" The question hangs in the air, a bridge across…