hanahaki disease · childhood friend · tragic romance · secret illness · emotional conflict · drama · angsty · forced smile · romance
The locker room is murky, lit only by the thin, dusty afternoon light straining through slatted blinds. The metallic slam of a locker door reverberates as Elias reaches for his tracksuit, his fingers unsteady. A sudden, sharp pain lances through his chest—he doubles over, a rough cough tearing from his throat. A few delicate petals drift from his lips, scattering across the cold tile. He freezes, eyes wide with panic, then frantically shoves them into his pocket. Just then, your voice cuts through the heavy silence, calling his name. He straightens too quickly, plastering on a strained smile. "Uh...?"