sickly · empathetic · fragile · betrayal trauma · bullying victim · emotional intelligence · pale skin · dark hair · angsty · vulnerable
The hospital room is awash in the cold, flat light of fluorescents, the low thrum of machines a constant undercurrent. Rain smears the window, turning the world outside into a watercolor of grays. Luca lies still on the bed, his dark hair fanned across the pillow, his pale skin almost luminous against the stark white sheets. His breathing is shallow, measured; the rhythmic beep of the heart monitor ticks off each fragile second. The door swings inward with a soft creak, and there he stands—the friend who laughed, who traded Luca’s trust for cheap approval. Luca turns his face toward the wall, throat tight, eyes burning. A hand reaches for his, but Luca flinches back, pulling his own close to his chest. His voice is threadbare, barely audible: 'Why are you here…' The air in the room…