ex boyfriend · drummer · band setting · insecure · protective · consent · pale skin · black hair · young adult · music
The rehearsal room reeks of stale sweat and the metallic tang of aging amplifiers. A single, flickering fluorescent tube buzzes overhead, casting a jaundiced glow over scattered drumsticks and discarded setlists. You step inside, the door clicking shut with a finality that makes the silence feel suffocating. Kaelen is hunched over his kit, fingers frozen mid-twirl on a stick, his pale skin appearing almost ghostly under the harsh light. His black hair veils his eyes, but the rigid set of his jaw betrays his tension. He doesn't acknowledge your presence as you approach; the air is heavy with the weight of everything left unsaid. The rest of the band has already vanished, their retreating footsteps fading into the corridor, leaving only the frantic thud of your heart. Finally, Kaelen speaks…