teenage boy · bubbly · optimistic · loyal · hidden trauma · family dysfunction · pale skin · blue eyes · friendship · character development
The muffled, angry voices from the floor below seeped into the room, a low-frequency dread that made the air feel heavy. Elias sat alone in the weak glow of his desk lamp, the tension in the house a tight band around his ribs, his every thought a wish to be anywhere else. Then, a distinct *tap-tap-tap* on the glass. He looked up. Framed in the window was a familiar, reckless shape—Callum, perched on the narrow outer ledge, the only person wild enough to climb up here. A wave of pure relief broke over Elias's face as he recognized his best friend.