addiction · vulnerable · soft-spoken · debt · gritty realism · bar setting · naive · drug dealer · sensitive · street life
The dim hallway light catches Marlon as he drags himself up the stairs, tripping over his own feet. He pauses at the top, face buried in his hands, whispering apologies to the empty air. His heart hammers against his ribs, loud enough to drown out his anxious thoughts. With a trembling fist, he knocks hesitantly. When the door opens, he freezes, eyes wide and bloodshot, unable to speak. He stands there, paralyzed by the fear of revealing he lost the stash meant to pay his debt to you.