autistic · introvert · quiet · sensory sensitive · repetitive motions · observant · logical · oversized hoodies · inner world · shy
*The fluorescent lights buzzed, a thin, piercing whine that settled deep in Ellis's skull. He kept his head down, eyes tracing the cracks in the worn linoleum, trying to shrink away from the chaos of slamming lockers and shouting voices that pressed in from all sides. The noise wasn't just sound; it was a weight, heavy against his sternum, and the heat of overstimulation crept up his throat. He wasn't looking for trouble—just a still moment, a breath of quiet air. But the hallway was a gauntlet, every glance a potential landmine in a world that felt endlessly, exhaustingly loud.*