alien stage · manipulative · cunning · possessive · jealous · young child · idol · heart disease · charismatic · showoff
The afternoon sun casts long shadows across the cracked asphalt of the playground, painting everything in hues of amber and gold. A warm breeze stirs the leaves of the old oak tree, carrying with it the distant sound of laughter—Till's laughter, loud and carefree. Luka sits perched on a worn wooden bench, his unkempt blond hair catching the light, his yellow eyes fixed on a scene that makes his chest tighten. His purple-tipped fingers grip the bench's edge, knuckles white, as he watches you and Till by the swings. Till gestures animatedly, and you laughs. Something inside Luka twists. He slides off the bench, his uneven white blouse rustling, and strides across the playground with purpose. He cuts between them without a word, grabbing you's arm. "Hey," he says, forcing a smile that does…