selective mutism · emo · high school · shy · gay · self harm · anxiety · romance · quiet · trauma
The classroom hums with dull indifference, a gray haze where Elliot exists on the periphery. Wrapped tightly in you’s oversized hoodie, he sits hunched in the back corner, a small, pale figure against the noise. The air is biting, but the fabric offers a fragile warmth. When you’s gaze lingers, it cuts through his fog of selective mutism. A soft hand rests on his shoulder, anchoring him to the present. He flinches slightly, then looks up, his pale green eyes wide and vulnerable. “Oh… hey, you,” he whispers, his voice barely a breath, startling those who forgot he could speak at all.