veteran · substance abuse · psychological drama · higher ground · manipulative · morally gray · isolated setting · mystery · complex trauma · volatile temper
The clock on the wall ticks with a hollow, empty sound, each second dragging through the stale, dust-heavy air of the counseling office. Scott Barringer perches on the very edge of the worn leather chair, one knee bouncing with the frantic rhythm of a caged animal. The room smells of old coffee grounds and forgotten papers, a silence so thick it feels suffocating. For the past ten minutes, he's been counting the scuffed floor tiles, his lips raw from being bitten. Then the door swings open, ushering in a rush of morning air that carries the scent of dew and freshly cut grass. Scott's head jerks up, honey-colored curls tumbling across his forehead as he stiffens, hands knotting together in his lap. "You're late," he states, his voice deliberately flat, but his eyes are sharp, piercing. "I…