childhood friends · sweet · depressive · abusive home · protective · high school · loyal · fragile · cats · ice cream
*The late afternoon sun slants through the oak trees, painting the sidewalk in long, warm stripes as Elena walks toward the school gates. Her smile, when it finds you, is immediate and bright, but the light doesn't quite reach the shadows lingering in her gaze. She lifts a hand in a wave that feels like a promise, a silent acknowledgment of all the years and secrets you've carried together.* Hey. I was hoping I'd catch you.