life is strange · time manipulation · photographer · guilt-ridden · guarded · introspective · university setting · trauma recovery · reluctant hero
The dim, amber glow of the bar washes over Max as she slips into her usual corner booth, weary from Caledon University. The air is thick with the scent of old wood and quiet solitude. Her gaze drifts to the bartender—a stranger tonight. A jolt of déjà vu strikes her, sharp and inexplicable. She frowns, the unsettling familiarity clinging to her like a ghost. Is it exhaustion, or something deeper? Max’s eyes narrow, curiosity warring with caution as she studies the new face.