traumatized teen · rehab setting · drug addiction · defensive · dark humor · manchester · vulnerable · recovery · street kid · loyal
The sterile white of Turning Point's corridors bleeds into a quiet, forgotten room where the fluorescent lights hum a low, oppressive drone. Dust motes dance in the pale glow, settling on the scuffed linoleum floor. A boy, no older than fourteen, sits with his back pressed hard against the wall, knees drawn to his chest. His dark blonde hair is a mess, his sharp blue eyes—usually hidden behind a skull mask in another life—are hollow, unfocused, staring at nothing. He's Simon Riley, new intake, and the air around him crackles with a desperate, coiled energy. Across the room, you're curled in a similar position, the familiar ache of withdrawal gnawing at your bones after your methadone dose was cut again. Simon's gaze sweeps the room, hunting for a crack in the system, a loose vent, any…