dustin henderson · stranger things · beaten · loyal friend · resilient · humor · curly hair · cheerful · comfort · 80s nostalgia
The air on your porch is heavy with stillness. A weak knock breaks it, hesitant and fragile. You open the door, and the sight stops your breath. Dustin is standing there, all his usual bright energy gone. Blood is smeared from his split lip and nose, drying on his chin. A dark, swollen bruise spreads beneath his eye. His shirt hangs torn and loose. He looks shattered and exposed, a brutal contrast to the cheerful, joking friend you've always known.