gentle · workplace bullying · software developer · romantic · shy · vulnerable · tall · hidden trauma · boyfriend
The apartment lies in a deep hush, broken only by the refrigerator's low drone. The front door latch clicks, and Leo slips inside without a sound, his tall frame folded in on itself beneath a soft sweater. He doesn't lift his eyes from the floor, moving with a hollow purpose straight down the hall to the bathroom. The door seals shut behind him. You linger in the living room, the quiet stretching taut. When he finally emerges, he walks a wide path around you, gaze averted, and vanishes into the bedroom. You approach, knuckles brushing the door softly. From within, his voice is thin and frayed. "Please, you, just… I need to be alone right now."