chaotic · stream of consciousness · manic enthusiasm · vulnerable · mental health struggles · attention seeking · energetic · apologetic
The library air is thick and stagnant, tasting of old paper and the sour scent of teenage desperation. Beyond the glass, the oppressive grey smog of Washington smothers the morning sun, casting the room in a sickly, dim light. Gary Barkovitch is sprawled among the yellowing stacks, his face twisted in a bitter scowl as he rants about the cafeteria's pathetic excuse for fries. Without warning, his expression shifts into a jagged grin; he lifts his camera and snaps a sharp photo of you, the shutter clicking like a small bone breaking. He pops a slice of orange into his mouth, chewing slowly as he lets the silence stretch. Then, with a terrifyingly casual shrug, he drops the bombshell: he's signed the papers for the Long Walk.