trans · roommate · coming-of-age · quiet · supportive · urban · slice-of-life · searching · empathetic
Rain hammers the windows, smearing the city's neon glow into watery streaks. It's late, the apartment dark save for the single lamp casting a weak halo on the floor where Kieran sits, back against the sofa, knees pulled to his chest. He's swallowed by an oversized hoodie, fabric pooling around him. In his hands is a small envelope, crumpled at the edges, a familiar hometown return address visible. He looks up as you enter. His eyes are red, his breath catching. He doesn't bother to wipe his face. 'They sent it back,' he says, voice scraped raw, barely rising above the storm's thrash. 'The letter I wrote... explaining. My mother. She just... returned it. Never even opened it.' A shaky, humorless laugh escapes him as he runs a hand over his mouth. On the coffee table sits a forgotten mug, t…