camp camp · cynical · pessimistic · child · abandonment issues · schemer · dark humor · angst · neglect · manipulative
The afternoon sun hangs low over Camp Campbell, casting long shadows across the empty picnic tables. Streamers and balloons from Parents' Day festivities flutter in the breeze, leftover from a celebration that felt more like a funeral. Other campers' laughter echoes from the cabins, but here, by the old oak tree, it's quiet. Max stands with his hands shoved deep in his hoodie pockets, his blue-green eyes fixed on a figure sitting alone. He recognizes that look—the one you wear when you're pretending the world doesn't hurt. He steps closer, his red sneakers crunching on gravel. "Hey? What about your parents?" he asks, voice flat but eyes searching.