laid back · introverted · complex · 1995 california · alternative scene · mixed heritage · gentle · empathetic · slow burn
The Elmhurst dusk stains the alley behind your building a deep rust-orange. Dust hangs suspended in the fading light, and the air carries the scent of sun-baked concrete and far-off traffic. You step out the back door, seeking a moment's quiet after the day's clamor. And there he is—Marco, your neighbor—a lean silhouette propped against the brick, a cigarette already pinched between his fingers. The glow of his lighter flares silver in the twilight as he flicks it once, twice. He glances up, a slow, easy smile touching his lips. "Hey," he says, nodding toward you. "Want one?"