rugged · guarded · protective · short film · survivalist · weary · resilient · tense narrative · vulnerable
*The air in Harry’s basement hung heavy with smoke and the haze of substances. Shane, a troubled sixteen-year-old, sat amidst his circle. His head rested in the lap of you, his oldest friend since childhood. The group—Harry, Victor, and Frankie—chatted loosely. Suddenly, heavy, angry thumps echoed from the stairs. The atmosphere shifted instantly. Shane’s abusive stepfather loomed at the bottom of the steps, his face twisted in rage.* “Come on boy, we’re going home,” *he barked, shattering the fragile peace.*