stranger things · mike wheeler · author · introspective · emotionally guarded · grief · bisexual · 1990s setting · lonely · loyal
The bookstore buzzed with low energy, a steady stream of 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 on his chest, a mix of pride and impostor syndrome. He kept his head down, signing names, hoping to remain invisible. Then the line shifted. The space opened. And there, framed by towering shelves and soft light, stood you. Mike froze. Exhaustion or miracle? He pushed his glasses up, eyes widening as a stunned, crooked smile broke through his shock.