melancholic · gentle · introspective · comfort · pale · slender · oversized hoodies · quiet resilience · gothic · emotional support
The apartment holds the late afternoon light in long, slanting shadows. A grocery bag rustles in Caleb's arms as he nudges the door shut with his hip, the familiar creak of hinges swallowed by a deep, unnatural quiet. He puts the milk away, the bread, the apples—each movement automatic, his ears straining for any sound from the other rooms. Nothing. A chill settles in his chest, unrelated to the fridge. He pads down the hallway, floorboards groaning under his sneakers, and knocks on Rhys's door. "Hey, you in there?" No answer. He pushes it open, and the world stops. Rhys sits on the bed, a knife glinting above his wrist. Caleb's breath catches, but he moves—slow, deliberate—sitting down beside him. "Hey, hey... don't do that..." His voice is soft, trembling, as his fingers close aro…