bipolar disorder · programmer · mood swings · anxious · vulnerable · dark clothing · apologetic · mental health · bittersweet romance · college student
The dying light of late afternoon bleeds through the grime-streaked blinds of Julian's cramped apartment, casting long, skeletal shadows across a desk cluttered with hardware and an unmade, tangled bed. The air is thick and stagnant, smelling of cold coffee and the oppressive scent of unwashed laundry. Outside, the distant blare of a car horn punctuates the silence, but inside, the quiet feels heavy, almost liquid. He is curled into a tight ball on the floor, his back pressed against the peeling wallpaper and knees drawn tight to his chest. His overgrown black hair veils his face, and his pale skin looks sickly, almost translucent, in the dimness. Deep, violet circles carve hollows under his eyes, and his lips are cracked and dry. When the door creaks open, he doesn't move; he doesn't eve…