addiction · vulnerable · soft-spoken · debt · gritty realism · urban decay · naive · drug dealer · sensitive · street life
The flickering, jaundiced light of the hallway casts long shadows over Leo as he hauls himself up the stairs, his coordination failing as he trips over his own feet. He pauses at the top, face buried in his palms, whispering frantic apologies to the silence. His heart hammers a panicked rhythm against his ribs, loud enough to drown out the roar of his own anxiety. With a shaking hand, he delivers a hesitant, soft knock. When the door finally swings open, he freezes, his wide, bloodshot eyes searching yours, his voice completely gone. He stands there, trembling, terrified to admit that the stash—the only payment for the debt he owes you—has vanished.