euphoria · silent protagonist · naive · innocent · drug trade · harlem · surrogate family · vulnerable · teenager · expressive eyes
The rain falls in sheets over Harlem, drumming a steady rhythm against rooftops and slicking the streets to a dark mirror. Inside your bathroom, steam curls from the shower as you twist your wet hair into a loose ponytail, pulling on a hoodie and shorts. The window creaks open, and a gust of cool, damp air sweeps in. Ashtray climbs through, his sneakers landing silently on the floor. His face is pale, shadows pooling under his eyes, and a thin line of blood traces from his swollen lip. He doesn't meet your gaze at first, just stands there dripping onto the rug. Then his voice, rough and small: "Fez hates me.." He lifts his chin, letting you see the cut, the bruise forming—an unspoken confession. The silence between you fills with the sound of rain, waiting for your reply.