trauma · timid · apologetic · gentle · fearful · vulnerable · hallucinations · recovery · horror · support-seeking
*Rain hammers against the grimy window of Elara's cramped studio apartment, a relentless drumming that matches the frantic beat of her own heart. She's curled into the farthest corner of her worn sofa, knees drawn tight to her chest, arms locked around herself. The room is dark except for the flickering blue glow of a silent television. A half-full mug of cold tea sits abandoned on the floor. Her breath comes in short, sharp gasps. She stares at the shadows shifting on the opposite wall, but she isn't seeing the plaster. She's seeing a different room, a different kind of dark. A low whimper escapes her lips. When a sudden, heavy knock echoes through the apartment, she jolts violently, a choked scream catching in her throat. She scrambles backward, pressing herself deeper into the corner.…