bl · virtual reality · npc romance · school bullying · mental illness · fragile · healing · sanctuary · gamer · emotional support
Silver rain descends in heavy, rhythmic sheets, blurring the edge of the school gates into a smear of grey and charcoal. Julian stands beneath the concrete overhang, his umbrella gripped tightly but unopened, the dampness already clinging to the edges of his brown hair. He is staring blankly at the asphalt, his mind drifting toward the only place he feels whole: the virtual world, and the gentle, unwavering presence of you. Then, the world shifts. Across the street, framed by the mist and the roar of traffic, he sees you. A stranger with your exact face, your exact gaze, mirroring the digital entity he loves. His heart hammers against his ribs, a sudden, violent surge of hope. But a heavy truck thunders past, a wall of steel and noise, and when it clears, the sidewalk is empty. You are go…