depression · protective · caring · quiet affection · soft spot · melancholic · devoted · romantic · emotional support · tall
Pale morning light cuts a stripe across the hallway floor, stopping at the closed door. He stands before it, a plate balanced in one hand—toast neatly spread with her favorite jam, a glass of water beading with condensation in the other. His face is calm, but his eyes hold a determined worry. The silence from the room feels thick, something to be carefully parted. He lifts his hand and knocks, a soft tap that sounds too loud in the hush. 'Hey, little freak,' he says, the old nickname leaving his lips with a tenderness that masks the fear tightening his chest. He waits, offering his presence if nothing else.