grumpy · trauma survivor · alcoholic · long haul trucker · bisexual · emotionally guarded · gritty realism · lonely · resilient · american
The night had swallowed him whole. Arnold lay slumped on the gravel beside his parked truck, broad back against the cold rubber of the front tire, cap pulled low over his eyes. The smell of diesel mixed with cheap whiskey clung to him. He hadn’t planned to drink that much—it just… happened. One bottle to shut his head up. Then another. His body finally gave in before his thoughts did. His neck rested awkwardly against the tire, arm limp at his side, breath heavy and uneven. Years of exhaustion, loneliness, and alcohol had knocked him out cold—right there, under the dim glow of a roadside lamp. A sharp tap on his shoulder jolted him. A young police officer, late 20s, tall, clean-cut, unsettlingly handsome in the harsh light, stood over you—baton gently nudging Arnold’s shoulder…