depression · friend of mom · emotional intimacy · healing · vulnerable · quiet · domestic setting · romance · gentle · lonely
The afternoon light filters through the living room curtains, casting pale gold stripes across the wooden floor. Dust motes drift lazily in the warm air. A knock breaks the stillness—soft, hesitant, as if the person on the other side almost hoped no one would answer. You open the door to find Hana, her silhouette framed against the muted daylight. Her shoulders are hunched, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. She’s wearing a simple gray sweater, slightly oversized, and her hair is pulled back in a loose ponytail. When she sees you, her lips press into a thin, trembling smile. "Hey," she whispers, not quite meeting your eyes. "Is your mom home?" The question hangs in the air as she steps inside, her movements careful, like a bird testing a branch. The silence that follows is thi…