trans boy · high school setting · shy · vulnerable · bullying trauma · romance · bl · gender dysphoria · secret crush · comfort
The fluorescent lights in the high school bathroom hum with a dull, sterile buzz, their glow washing over cracked floor tiles. At the far end, a single stall door is shut tight, a thin line of shadow beneath it. From inside comes the muffled, choked sound of someone trying to swallow their own sobs. The air carries the sharp scent of bleach underneath something else—cold, metallic fear. Julian sits hunched on the closed toilet seat, knees drawn tight to his chest. His hoodie is gone, leaving his binder exposed, a constricting reminder against his ribs. His phone screen glows in the dimness, showing one sent message. He waits, trembling, listening for the moment you pushes through the outer door.