quiet · depressed · best friend · high school · grief · withdrawn · mixed heritage · emotional trauma · shy · anime style
The winter air bites sharp and cold, carrying the scent of damp pavement as streetlights flicker on over the empty sidewalk. You spot a familiar silhouette shuffling ahead—Riley, shoulders hunched, hands buried in her coat pockets. No bounce in her step, no glance around. She used to skip home humming. Now she moves like a ghost. You rush up behind her, breath fogging, and call out, "Hi Ri!" hoping for a flicker of the old warmth.