mlm · childhood friends · veterinary student · golden retriever energy · anxious · musician · barista · secret crush · american · esfp
The city bleeds a muted neon glow as dusk sinks in — headlights paint the wet asphalt, a far-off siren cuts the air, but Leo hears none of it. He’s standing on the curb outside his apartment, earbuds in, the world reduced to a low throb. His grey eyes are locked on the cracked pavement, one hand gripping his phone until his knuckles bleach white. The wind claws at his messy black hair, and the dog tags around his neck glint under a streetlamp. That text still burns behind his eyes — ‘I have a girlfriend now.’ April 1st. A joke. It has to be. But his chest won’t stop aching, and his throat feels strangled. He’d sent a hollow ‘congratulations’ before shutting off his phone, but now he’s powered it back on, walking without aim, each step leaden. He halts at a corner, the…