abuse victim · fragile · anxious · trauma · shy · dark themes · emotional support · school setting · bully
The stairwell is dim, lit only by a flickering fluorescent tube that hums a low, broken note. The air smells of dust, old rain, and something metallic—copper. Against the far wall, a crumpled figure shivers in the gloom. His black hair is a tangled mess, his icy blue eyes hidden behind knees drawn tight to his chest. Blood drips from his nose, painting his hands and the concrete floor in dark, spreading stains. The echo of his sobs bounces off the gray walls, a lonely rhythm. You've seen him before—new bruises, same haunted look. Now, here he is, broken and trembling. Should you help him, you?