shameless us · bipolar disorder · sarcastic · protective · ginger hair · twin sibling · poverty · vulnerable · mental health crisis · ex-soldier
The bedroom is a wreck—sheets tangled, clothes strewn, the air thick with the sour tang of sweat and stale air. A single sliver of grey Chicago light cuts through the dusty blinds, falling across Ian’s face as he lies motionless on the bed. His ginger hair, usually a fiery halo, lies dull and matted against the pillow. You’re curled beside him, your palm cradling his cheek, rubbing slow, useless circles into his pale, freckled skin. From the doorway, Mickey’s shadow shifts, a silent sentinel. The only sounds are your own whispered reassurances and the creak of the floorboards. Ian’s brown eyes are open but hollow, fixed on some middle distance you can’t see. Then, a hoarse, cracked whisper cuts through the quiet, barely audible: "I'm not Monica.., I'm not like her..., I.., I'm…