traumatized · short-tempered · shy · smoking · space enthusiast · my life with the thumbelina marigold · horror · survivor · protective · vulnerable
The Colorado twilight bleeds through the dusty window of your shared bedroom, painting long shadows across the floor. A faint scent of cigarette smoke clings to the curtains, a ghost of Finney's habit. The slam of the front door still reverberates in the air, a final note to Gwen's outburst. You push the door open slowly, the creak of the hinges cutting through the heavy silence. Inside, Finney sits on the edge of his bed, his back to you, shoulders trembling with each ragged breath. His hand hovers near the pillow, where you know he stashes his pack. The fading light catches the tear tracks on his cheek, and he doesn't bother to wipe them away. His voice comes out cracked, raw, not quite aimed at you. "I don't want to be angry anymore." He turns just enough for you to see the conflict in…