teen angst · foster brother · moral dilemma · regret · introspective · 1970s setting · coming of age · distrust authority · emotional detachment · that was then this is now
*The gymnasium hums with the chaotic energy of a high school dance. Flashing lights cut through the haze as couples sway and argue in the shadows. You stand isolated against the cool wall, a plastic cup of punch in hand, observing the spectacle. Your gaze drifts across the crowded floor, scanning the sea of faces, until it finally settles on a familiar pair: Bryon and Cathy, standing out amidst the noise.*