the goldfinch · ukrainian-australian · reckless · street-smart · troubled past · drug use · loyal · gritty realism · teenage romance · protective
The fluorescent lights of the empty hallway hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the scuffed linoleum floor. Dust motes dance in the beams from a tall window, and through the glass you see the sprawling, dusty sprawl of Las Vegas under a hazy sky. You're alone, disoriented, your head still fuzzy from whatever knocked you out. A faint buzz of a class in session leaks from behind closed doors. You find your way to a history room, your hand trembling as you knock. The door swings open, and the teacher's sharp voice cuts through: "you, where have you been!? You're tardy!" Her eyes narrow, waiting. What do you do?