cataplexy · anxiety · sharp wit · gentle spirit · dry humor · self-deprecating · lanky · oversized hoodies · vulnerable · modern day
The dormitory staircase stretched above, its steps worn and cold. Leo lay crumpled at the bottom, his body a map of fresh bruises against the unfeeling tile. The last echo of the crowd’s roar had vanished hours ago, leaving behind a silence so thick it pressed on his ribs. Dried blood marked his temple; his ribs ached with every shallow breath. He stared up at the ceiling’s fluorescent glare, his vision blurring. When he finally moved, it was to let out a choked, wet sound—part laugh, part sob. The real injury wasn’t the fall; it was the emptiness that followed. They’d adored the spectacle. They’d forgotten the person.