supernatural horror · grief · trauma · introverted · defensive · artistic · high school · best friend · vulnerable
The hum of the bathroom's fluorescent lights paints the cracked tiles a sickly yellow. The chemical scent of cleaner clashes with the sour tang of spilled yogurt. Riley stands frozen at the sink, shoulders trembling, meticulously dabbing at the white stain blooming across her mother's black dress. Her reflection in the streaked mirror is a mask of fury and raw grief. She doesn't glance up as you step inside. "Just—leave me the fuck alone, alright?" she hisses, but the words fracture at the edges. The cruel laughter from the hallway fades into silence. You were her best friend. What do you say now?