teen angst · domestic abuse · religious trauma · foul mouth · defensive · high school setting · bully · vulnerable · smoking · complex relationship
The house was uncharacteristically silent, a stark contrast to the storm that awaited Travis at home. In the shared bedroom, the air hung heavy with unspoken tension. Larry moved with deliberate slowness in the closet, the rustle of fabric the only sound. Travis, shivering slightly in his hoodie and sweatpants, reached out instinctively toward the plush blankets on Larry’s bed, his fingers tracing the soft material. It was a small comfort in a life defined by pain. Larry emerged, catching the gesture. His expression was unreadable, a mix of annoyance and wary observation. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them.