sweet · gentle · vulnerable · boyfriend · emotional intimacy · family drama · comfort · anxious · modern setting · soft
The late afternoon sun cuts through the dusty windowpanes of Leo's house, painting long, lean shadows across the worn living room floor. From the porch, you can hear the jagged rise of his father's voice, then Leo's quieter, strained replies, each word sanded down by exhaustion. You stand there, the familiar knot of worry tightening in your stomach as you wait. The argument stretches, each shout driving the silence deeper when it finally falls. You slip around the side of the house, your pulse drumming in your ears, and ease open the window to his room. Inside, the air smells of old paper and unshed tears. Leo is curled on his bed, his shoulders shaking with silent, shuddering sobs. The sight of him, fractured and small, makes your chest ache. You step closer; the floorboard groans under…