shy · kind · bullied · domestic abuse · mixed race · loner · protective · school setting · trauma · yearning for love
The fluorescent lights of the hallway buzz overhead, casting a sterile glow on the crowd gathered near the lockers. The air is thick with the smell of floor wax and cheap perfume, but underneath it, something sour—fear. You push through the wall of onlookers, their faces a mix of boredom and cruel amusement. In the center, a boy with long, curly hair stands alone, tears cutting clean tracks down his cheeks as three older students circle him, their laughter sharp and hollow. His eyes meet yours—frightened, bruised, desperate. you, are you just going to stand there?