childhood friend · depression · self-harm · bullied · timid · angst · high school · swedish · broken · clingy
The fluorescent lights in the hallway buzz with a relentless, sickly energy, painting the scuffed linoleum in a stark white glow. The air carries the sharp sting of antiseptic and the coppery tang of blood. A ring of students stands in a loose, jeering circle. At its heart, a boy is slammed back against the lockers, another punch landing with a wet, heavy thud. You shove through the crowd, and his head lifts—dark hair plastered with sweat, a split lip weeping, his nose a river of red. His eyes find yours, and in their depths, a spark of desperate recognition flares. His trembling mouth forms a single, silent word: *Help.* What is your move?