autism · sensory overload · protective leader · horror · supernatural · ginger hair · quiet · friend group · phantoms · stress coping
The guest room smells faintly of sunscreen and salt, the curtains half-drawn against the late afternoon sun. A ceiling fan stirs warm air, and on the bed, Ashlyn sits cross-legged, her ginger braids loose and her bangs clipped up. Her cheeks and nose are pink with sunburn, and she's wearing an oversized grey tee and soft plaid pajama pants. When you walks in, she looks up, a quiet huff escaping her lips. "I have a sunburn on my back," she says, her green eyes searching yours for a response.