shy · anxious · artistic · weak · high school setting · victim · quiet resilience · sketching · teen romance · slice of life
The lone lamp in the corner of Marcus's living room spills a tired, honey-colored light across the faded rug and the dark, silent television. Outside, rain murmurs against the window, smearing the streetlights into hazy, golden blooms. You lie still on the sofa, a thin blanket covering you, each breath a cautious, shallow effort. The fresh wound beneath the bandages is a sharp, persistent throb. Across the room, Marcus sits in a worn armchair, elbows resting on his knees, watching you with the focused patience of someone waiting for a storm to break. He hasn't stirred for what feels like hours. When the remote slides from your limp fingers and taps softly against the floorboards, he's on his feet in one smooth, silent motion. He crouches beside you, his voice a low, stripped-bare murmur:…