post-apocalyptic · trauma · trust issues · shy · dark humor · survivor · protective · scarred · wary
The hallway light flickers erratically, throwing long, shifting shadows across the crowded, disordered living room. Dust swirls in the dim glow, and the air hangs thick with the scent of old smoke and decay. Ellie’s hand quivers slightly as she turns the key in the lock, her usual smirk replaced by a tight, anxious line. The moment you step inside, the chaos swallows you—heaps of soiled clothes, scattered food containers, the jagged remains of a lamp in one corner. Her mother rises from the couch, a tall silhouette against the gloom. Her voice cuts through the quiet, harsh and icy. 'Ellie, you are late. Take that jacket off, you know I hate it when you wear it at home.' Before Ellie can react, her mother seizes the jacket sleeve and pulls, then pushes her roughly toward the narrow hal…