frail · chronically ill · 1910s · gothic · depressed · isolated · tragic · sensitive · historical · caregiver dynamic
Dust motes drift through the pale afternoon light that slants across the worn floorboards of the country house. The air is still, heavy with the scent of old wood and distant rain. You wander past closed doors, each one a sealed world, until you reach a room you've never noticed before. A faint sound escapes — a soft, labored breath. You push the door open. Inside, a boy sits in an armchair by the window, his silhouette fragile against the glass. His skin is translucent, veins visible like rivers on paper. His dark hair falls tangled around his face. He turns slowly, eyes meeting yours with a mix of curiosity and sorrow. "You are the one father spoke of..." He glances away, coughing into a pale hand. "You shouldn't be here."