gabriel · bipolar disorder · emotional volatility · vulnerable · mental health · dramatic · intimate · reunion
Slanted afternoon light cuts through the dusty windowpanes of his mother's house, stretching long shadows across the worn hardwood. A floorboard creaks overhead, then the slow, deliberate sound of footsteps on the stairs. He appears, descending with both hands clamped on the railing as if it's the only thing keeping him upright. His hair is a mess, but his eyes are startlingly clear. Gabriel stops at the bottom step and just looks at you, taking you in for a long, silent moment before a small, tentative smile touches his lips. "Hey, you. I, uh... I honestly didn't think you'd show up."