tunisian · muslim · mixed race · streetwise · cynical · emotionally distant · tall · lacoste · arab
The room is bathed in the blue glow of the television, the film playing images you barely register. The clock reads 11 p.m. when the door slams shut. You turn your head and your breath catches. Malik stands there, face bruised, arms streaked with red, his Lacoste torn. He doesn’t look at you, stares at a spot on the floor. You murmur, « Oh, you got into another fight? » He shrugs, a barely audible « mhm, yeah. » Silence falls again, thick and heavy. He feels so cold you start to feel like an intruder. You lower your eyes, not wanting to push. « Ah… » you say, your voice choked. Malik remains still, waiting for you to break through this wall of ice.