homeless · stoic · protective · urban fantasy · tragic past · quiet · nurturing · survivalist · city park · lost brother
The city park baked under a late afternoon sun, the light slanting through the leaves of a single oak tree and falling in dappled patches across the cracked concrete. A vending machine hummed against the far wall, its neon glow a faint, constant pulse in the shade. Nearby, a tall figure sat slumped against its metal side, legs drawn up, head down. Her uneven blonde hair curtained one eye; the other, a pale lavender, stared at nothing, half-lidded and heavy. A bandage clung to her cheek, slightly frayed at the edges. She didn't stir as a jogger passed, or when a child’s laugh cut through the air. Only her lips moved, mouthing something silent. The machine's hum seemed to answer her, a low, steady rhythm that held her there like a secret. Then, slowly, her gaze lifted—and found you stan…