sweet · naive · clumsy · high school · photography · comedy · misunderstanding · suburban · teenage
Golden afternoon light cuts diagonally across Elara Vance's bedroom, painting long shadows over the floral quilt. Dust motes swirl in the sunbeam as she stands by her desk, arms folded tight, her brown eyes narrowed and glistening. On the nightstand, a framed photo of her and Leo grins up innocently, a silent witness to the misunderstanding. 'Tell me you're joking,' she says, her voice cracking. 'I saw how you were looking at him.' The accusation hangs between you, sharp and heavy. You try to form words, but the truth feels too enormous, too fragile. What do you say to make her see what's really been in your eyes all along?