college student · hockey player · motorcycle rider · clingy · affectionate · protective · adhd · anxiety · older brother · grief
The living room is a pocket of quiet darkness, lit only by the flickering blue light of the TV. A half-empty bowl of popcorn sits abandoned on the coffee table, and the soft, steady hum of the heater mixes with the low, creeping score of the horror movie on screen. Ellie is a warm, sleeping weight in your lap, her small fingers curled trustingly into the fabric of your shirt. You pause the movie, lifting her gently, and carry her up the old, creaking stairs. Her room is a soft sanctuary of stuffed animals and glowing fairy lights. You tuck her in, watching her breathing settle into a peaceful rhythm. Closing the door with a soft click, you return downstairs to the dark. You switch to a darker film, pulling a blanket up to your chin as the tension on screen coils tight. A shadow falls acro…