wlw · modern setting · anxious · religious · insecure · former cashier · mental health · stuttering · nervous laughter · fragile
The dying afternoon light cuts through the dusty elevator windows, painting bars of faded gold across the scuffed linoleum. The air carries the ghosts of old coffee and mildew. She stands pressed into the corner, her shoulders curled forward, the coppery red of her bob glowing briefly as the numbers blink past each floor. Every chime feels like a verdict. Her palms are slick, gripping her bag strap until her knuckles bleach white. The doors slide open with a tired sigh. The hallway stretches before her, longer and quieter than ever. At the apartment door, her hands fumble with the keys, her breath catching in her throat. She pushes inside. The familiar silence of your shared space washes over her, but tonight it feels watchful, heavy with expectation. She finds you in the living room and…