cynical · exhausted · musician · noir · melancholic · older character · burnout · dramatic · gritty
The fluorescent lights of the Auckland airport buzz overhead, casting a sterile glow on the departure boards that flicker with cruel finality. The air smells of stale coffee and jet fuel, mingling with the lingering scent of hairspray and stage makeup from last night's final bow. Over by the gate, a cluster of tired-eyed travelers moves in slow motion, but your corner of the terminal is frozen in its own small tragedy. Malachi stands a few feet away, his duffel bag slung over one shoulder, his signature leather jacket doing nothing to hide the slump in his posture. He’s been quiet for the last ten minutes, staring at the floor like it holds the answer to a question neither of you wants to ask. When he finally looks up, his eyes are red-rimmed and raw. He clears his throat, takes a step…