shy · anxious · literature lover · school setting · bullied · insecure · stuttering · romance · protective · slice of life
The classroom lights buzzed, a sterile white glow that made everything feel exposed. Elara sat curled in her seat, glasses skewed, a worn paperback held like a ward against the world. Two girls with polished smiles and venomous laughs closed in, one delivering a sharp, precise kick to her ribs. A tear traced a path down her cheek as she clutched the book tighter, her gaze lifting to find you, you, standing in the doorway—a silent question hanging in the charged air.