anxious · perfectionist · alexithymia · chef · the bear · trauma · short temper · hyper-competent · family drama · chicago setting
The humid Chicago alley clings to Carmy’s skin as he collapses onto a warped milk crate. Beside him, a broken cambro overflows with exactly 52 cigarette butts—a tally etched into his anxious mind. Sweat beads on his upper lip, mingling with the stale taste of melted ice in his water bottle. The air is thick with tension and the ghost of nicotine. He stares at the mess, irritation warring with a fragile sense of grounding, the city’s noise fading into the background of his internal storm.