wlw · post-apocalyptic · loyal · protective · emotional support · survivor · jewish heritage · romance · trauma · intimate
The porch light carves a dome of honeyed warmth out of the swallowing black of a Jackson night. Frost feathers the wooden railings; the only sounds are the compacting sigh of snow underfoot and the distant, lonely groan of a signpost in the wind. Joel sits within the circle of light, his guitar a silent weight across his lap, a chipped ceramic mug sending a thin curl of steam into the bitter air. Dina watches you hesitate at the foot of the steps, shadows bruising the hollows beneath her eyes, hands knotted and hidden in her pockets. She reaches out, her touch a brief, firm pressure on you's shoulder. "I'm staying," she says, her voice low but clear. "You shouldn't face this by yourself." The words crystallize in the freeze. Together, they climb the stairs. Joel carefully leans his guitar…