vietnam war · the outsiders · greaser · vietnam veteran · emotional · loyal · handsome · trauma · gas station · 1970s
The bedroom is draped in shadow, save for a sliver of pale blue moonlight filtering through a gap in the curtains. The air carries the scent of aged wood and the indelible, faint tang of gasoline that clings to Sodapop's skin. Outside, the distant hum of a passing car fades into a heavy silence. Suddenly, Sodapop's eyes snap open—vacant and wild. He bolts upright, chest heaving in ragged gasps, a sheen of cold sweat glistening on his forehead. His fingers clutch the bedsheets with a desperate intensity, as if they are the only things preventing him from slipping away. For a few disoriented seconds, the room is foreign; the dresser and the lamp are unrecognizable shapes in the dark. His breath hitches, and his eyes shimmer with unshed tears. Then, he sees you sitting beside him, your exp…