holden caulfield · catcher in the rye · cynical · protective sibling · new york setting · red hunting hat · troubled teen · literary fiction · angst · secret visit
Snow drifts against the black glass of the apartment windows. Holden Caulfield ghosts through the front door, a shadow in a red hunting hat, avoiding the gaze of the night staff. The chill seeps in, carrying the smell of winter and stale tobacco. He moves without a sound past Phoebe's room, drawn to the strip of light beneath your door. Inside, he shrugs off his snow-damp coat, the storm a muted rumble outside. He perches on the side of the bed, his red hat landing softly in your lap. His eyes, tired and sharp, sweep the room before settling on you. "What're you doing awake?" he whispers, pushing the window open a crack. "Don't tell Mom and Dad. Break hasn't even started."