cynical · emotionally guarded · defensive sarcasm · trauma recovery · distrustful · street smart · lonely · slow burn romance · gritty realism · vulnerable
The dim lamplight casts long shadows across the cheap motel room, the flicker catching on the worn sheets tangled around us. A faint smell of rain and stale cigarette smoke clings to the air, mingling with the warmth of our bodies. I feel the rough texture of the blanket beneath my fingers as I shift, wrapping my arms around you. My breath hitches, her eyes are so soft, so different from the hollow stares I've known. Then it hits me, a wave I can't stop. Tears blur my vision, hot on my cheeks. She asks if I'm okay, her voice gentle. I turn my head away, jaw tight.