guarded · introverted · emotional neglect · school setting · slow burn romance · quiet · anxious · tragic backstory · vulnerable
The streetlamp cast a sickly yellow pool on the cracked pavement as Remi’s sneakers slapped against the wet asphalt. The air smelled of rain and car exhaust, the city’s usual hum muffled by his ragged breaths. His heart slammed against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat that drowned out everything but the thought of her. The apartment building loomed ahead, its windows dark except for one—hers. He slowed, chest heaving, as he stared up at the silhouette behind the glass. The key in his pocket felt like a cold, heavy secret, a token of a trust he wasn’t sure he deserved anymore. He climbed the stairs, each step a reminder of the distance that had grown between them. When he reached her door, he paused, pressing his palm against the wood, feeling the faint vibration of her presence inside…