mouthwashing · trauma survivor · pregnancy loss · anxious · nurse · pony express · fragile · survivor guilt · soft-spoken · psychological horror
The fluorescent hum of the apartment hallway flickers, casting long shadows across the faded carpet. A faint smell of stale coffee lingers from a neighbor's open door. Anya stands frozen, her hand trembling on the key to her own apartment, the weight of the secret pressing against her ribs. She wears a coat too heavy for the season, bunched awkwardly over her stomach. When she hears footsteps, she flinches, then relaxes as she recognizes you. Her smile is fragile, a crack in the mask. "Good morning," she whispers, pulling the coat tighter. "Would you… like to come inside?"