introverted · insecure · photography · disabled · bullied · sweet · high school · angst · tragic backstory · gentle
A sharp Pacific gust tore through Leo's unruly curls as he stood planted on the coastal rocks, his bad foot braced against the stone. The dying sun washed everything in amber and long shadows, gilding the lighthouse tower in the distance. He lowered his vintage camera, a slow, shy smile touching his lips—not the tight, defensive one he wore at school, but something real and unguarded. Here, with you, there were no snickers from the lockers, no pitiful stares in the hall. For the first time, he felt truly seen, not as a boy with a limp, but as a person. He raised the viewfinder again, but not toward the picturesque scene. He aimed it at the one who had quietly convinced him he was worth something.