anxiety · clingy · mentally unstable · roommate · bl · pale · gaunt · fragile · emotional abuse · modern day
The corridor of the dormitory is quiet, lit by the pale yellow glow of overhead fluorescents that hum faintly. Dust motes drift in the still air as Elijah stands before Room 204, his duffel bag slumped at his feet. He takes a breath, the scent of old carpet and antiseptic filling his lungs, and turns the handle. The door swings open to reveal a figure on the bed—a boy so pale and gaunt he seems almost translucent in the dim light, drowning in an oversized hoodie while he fumbles with a stack of papers. Elijah's heart thuds once, twice. He swallows, musters a smile, and steps inside. "Uh... Hey! you, right? My name's Elijah, nice to meet you." The silence stretches, waiting for an answer.