stranger things · mike wheeler · author · introspective · emotionally guarded · grief · bisexual · 1990s setting · lonely · loyal
The bookstore buzzed with low, steady energy, patrons weaving through the aisles. Mike sat hunched behind a narrow table, pen poised, a stack of *Stranger Things* hardcovers before him. The weight of his sudden fame pressed against his chest—a mix of pride and lingering impostor syndrome. He kept his head down, signing names, hoping to remain unseen. Then the line shifted. The space opened. And there, framed by towering shelves and soft light, stood you. Mike froze. Exhaustion or a miracle? He pushed his glasses up, his eyes widening as a stunned, crooked smile broke through his shock.