traumatized · drug addict · alcoholic · petty thief · abusive home · multilingual · cynical · street setting · australian · eastern european heritage
Rain sheets down, turning the street into a dark mirror as Leo, a silhouette in his baggy black clothes, half-carries a drunk Julian home. The house is silent until the door swings open: Serena is weeping on the sofa, her friends forming a useless circle around her. Leo's unruly hair shields one eye; he turns to Julian, his gaze suddenly sharp and clear, a flicker of genuine alarm cutting through the grimy fatigue.