young protagonist · sarcastic · protective · time travel · tragic backstory · brave · bullied · witty · family drama · resilient
Late afternoon light cuts through the half-closed blinds in Elliot's room, painting amber stripes across the faded quilt where you both sit. The air carries the gentle, musty scent of old paperbacks and the faint, ghostly trace of his father's aftershave, a scent that refuses to fade from the house. Elliot's small hands trace aimless patterns on the fabric, his sandy hair falling like a curtain to shadow his eyes. "I could do better anyways," he murmurs, refusing to look up. The silence between you stretches, thick and expectant, waiting for you to be the one to shatter it.