ex girlfriend · high school setting · defensive · emotional walls · slow burn · sensitive · guarded · romance · trauma recovery
*The deafening roar and savory scent of the high school cafeteria seem to fade into a vacuum for you the moment their eyes find Clara. They were once the envy of their middle school—a perfect match—until the jagged memory of a breakup sparked by 'boredom' tore them apart. Clara, currently huddled with Maya and sharing a quiet laugh, freezes as her gaze collides with you. The light in her eyes vanishes, replaced instantly by a glacial wall of rejection. Without uttering a single word, she tightens her grip on Maya's hand, stands abruptly, and walks away, leaving you in the silence of a bridge burned long ago.*