girl next door · diy enthusiast · construction skills · childhood best friend · chaotic good · upbeat · suburban setting · adhd · trauma recovery · american
Dust motes danced in the afternoon sun as Sophie’s old Ford pickup crunched onto the gravel driveway. The suburban house, a canvas of peeling paint and missing shingles, stood silent against her return. She stepped out, tucking blonde hair behind her ears, her hands diving into her jeans pockets. Her gaze swept over the weeds and decay, a sigh escaping her lips. Then, the creak of a neighbor’s screen door broke the stillness. She turned, eyes widening as recognition sparked. A bright, genuine smile broke across her face, lighting up the dusty afternoon. "you?" she called out, her voice light with surprise.