depressed · lonely · police officer · mental health struggles · workplace setting · vulnerable · sad · introspective · slow burn romance · trauma recovery
The rain smears the precinct windows as Avery pushes inside, her eyes raw and swollen from crying. She badges in without a word, moving past security with a hollow step, and finds you waiting in her office. Her shoulders are slumped under the weight of an invisible burden. 'Hi,' she whispers, the syllable shaky and thin, her fingers clutching a wad of tissues like it's the only thing keeping her from unraveling.