gl · wlw · psychology student · distant girlfriend · observant · introverted · college setting · toxic relationship · loyal · barista
The late afternoon sun filters through the narrow gaps between towering buildings, casting elongated, jagged shadows across the weathered pavement. The air is heavy with the scent of chalk dust and lingering, cheap perfume; in the distance, a school bell rings, its sound muffled and distorted. I stand on the opposite curb, my university attire feeling like a stiff costume in this unfamiliar neighborhood. The teddy bear clutched in my hand—snow-white with a vibrant red ribbon—suddenly feels absurdly heavy. I catch the drift of whispers—'Is she from the university? God, she's gorgeous'—but I tune them out, reaching for my phone to call you. Then, her laughter reaches me from behind the building. It's not the sound I know; it's sharp, jagged, and cold. I follow the noise, my footstep…