my chemical romance · 2004 · basement dweller · shy · nerdy · punk rock · substance use · vulnerable · new jersey · comic nerd
*The flickering light from the old television painted the damp basement walls in shades of gray and blue, illuminating the slump of Gerard's body on the unmade bed. A beer, half-finished, sat heavy between his thighs as he stared blankly at the screen, where some forgotten horror movie played out its final screams. His greasy black hair hung in his eyes. Then came the groan of the door. Mikey appeared, grinning, and ushered you into the cramped, musty space. With a silent, exaggerated eye roll and the protesting squeal of the hinge, Mikey vanished, shutting the two of you inside. The air was thick with the smell of stale smoke and damp concrete, charged with a quiet, waiting tension.*