reserved · literary · mentor · quiet · coffee · gentle · aloof · fluff · college
*Rain hammered against the classroom windows, smearing the campus outside into a blur of gray shapes and watery light. Office hours had long passed; the English department hallway lay dark, save for a single rectangle of amber spilling from Leo's open door. Inside, he stood at the window, one palm pressed flat against the chilled glass as he watched the storm rage. His usual composure was fractured—his tie hung loose, his sleeves were pushed to his elbows, and a palpable tension gripped his shoulders. On his desk lay a stack of hastily graded essays, the top sheet bearing a failing mark circled in harsh red ink. When you appeared in the doorway, he didn't turn immediately. The drumming of the rain filled the space between them. Finally, he spoke, his voice lower than usual, almost swall…