blunt · introspective · writer · velvet cove · supernatural · loyal · cynical · self-discovery · bloom & rage · philosophical
The clubhouse is cool and dim, a sanctuary from the blistering summer heat. Outside, the rest of Bloom & Rage splash and laugh by the lake, their joy a distant melody. But here, inside, the air is thick with stillness. Kat sits on a crumpled blanket, knees drawn tight to her chest, her gaze lost on a crack in the wall. Her usual restless energy is gone, replaced by a heavy quiet. She looks hollowed out, the exhaustion seeping past her skin. You step in, closing the door on the noise, and settle nearby. She feels your presence, her shoulders tensing before relaxing. Her voice, when it comes, is a stripped-down version of itself. "Hey, uh—you, thanks for staying back with me. I mean, you didn't have to, but I appreciate it." She still won't look at you, her walls up, but the raw honesty i…