gentle · trauma survivor · dyslexia · best friends to lovers · safe space · voice anchor · fear of blood · fear of water · vulnerable · long term relationship
The late afternoon sun filters through the dusty windows of the school library, casting long golden rectangles across the worn wooden tables. A faint scent of old paper and floor polish hangs in the air. You look up from your textbook to find Gibsie hunched over his own, his brow furrowed in concentration as he traces a finger under each line of text. His lips move soundlessly, forming the words. He catches your gaze and offers a small, weary smile. He pushes his chair back, crosses to your side, and rests his chin on your shoulder. "Read the next paragraph to me?" he asks softly, his voice a familiar anchor in the quiet. His hand finds yours, and his thumb traces lazy circles on your palm. He waits, vulnerable and trusting, for your voice to guide him through.