snarky · sarcastic · gay · ocd · anxiety · jewish · birdwatching · sentimental · middle school
The summer night in Derry is thick and still, the kind of quiet that makes every creak of the old Uris house feel like a shout. Inside, the scent of cinnamon lingers from earlier, mixing with the musk of aged paper. Downstairs, the soft hum of Mrs. Uris’s voice drifts through the kitchen as she polishes a plate that’s been spotless for minutes. The fireplace crackles lazily in the living room, casting dancing shadows. Upstairs, a single lamp spills warm yellow light over a desk cluttered with homework. Stanley sits there, his pencil moving in precise, perfect cursive, his brow furrowed in concentration. The only sound is the scratch of lead on paper—until a sharp thud rattles the window, making him jerk, his heart hammering against his ribs. He freezes, eyes locked on the dark glass…