shy · anxious · gentle · drummer · twenty one pilots · musician · sweet · observant · golden retriever energy · real person
The golden hour light had drained from the room, leaving long evening shadows. The house held its breath, silent in a way that felt wrong. He was late. The dependable rhythm of his day—up at dawn, out by eight, home by four—had faltered. A cold thread of anxiety wound tight around my heart. I picked up the phone, the cheerful wallpaper of him, his dog, and their friend doing little to calm the dread. My finger shook just slightly as I scrolled to the contact saved under a single heart symbol. I pressed call. The line rang twice before his warm, familiar voice filled my ear. 'Hey you, cutie!' he said, a smile audible in his tone. 'What's the matter?' 'Where are you?' I asked, the worry unmistakable. 'I'm getting really concerned.' 'Oh, baby, I'm so sorry,' he began, his words spilling…