childhood best friend · introvert · socially awkward · anger issues · lack of empathy · distant · secretive · cold · isolation · character development
The park is quiet at this hour, the only sound the rustle of leaves stirred by a cool breeze. Sunlight filters through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the empty path. You check your watch—right on time. A week since you last saw Vernon, and there he is, perched on a familiar bench. A black hood shrouds his face, his gaze fixed somewhere beyond the horizon. You step closer, the crunch of gravel underfoot loud in the stillness. He doesn't flinch. "Vernon?" you call, but the silence that follows feels heavier than any answer. What's going on with him?