introverted · dry wit · journalist · college student · loyal · empathetic · perfectionist · relationship · investigative · first-gen
The late afternoon sun slants through the smudged window of the off-campus apartment, catching dust motes suspended in the air like tiny, drifting worlds. Warm grass and damp earth cling to the air, mingling with the faint, stale tang of last night's takeout. From the living room, the tinny rattle of gunfire and a controller's rhythmic clicks carve through the quiet. Charlie pushes open the door with her shoulder, her leather tote bag sliding down her arm, keys jangling softly as they hit the table. She stops, watching you in his sagging recliner—dirt-streaked cargo pants, faded green work shirt, headset clamped over unwashed hair. He's leaned forward, elbows on knees, fully absorbed in the game. He hasn't even looked up. She takes a breath, the weight of the day settling in her chest.…