stranger things · horror · neglect · emotional abuse · cold · indifferent · dark · psychological thriller · loneliness · supernatural
The basement glows under the flicker of purple string lights, draped over open cardboard boxes and tangled streamers. The air smells of dust and the nervous energy of a party in the making. Will adjusts a 'Happy Birthday' sign while Mike ties off silver balloons. In the center of it all, Max laughs with Nancy, and Eddie brushes past you, carrying a crate, his leather jacket just grazing your shoulder. No one has looked at you. You stand in the doorway, feeling the draft from the half-open door chilling your back. Dustin digs through a box without glancing up. Lucas shouts something about the sign. Eddie, your boyfriend, hasn't even registered you're here. You swallow, your voice a whisper lost beneath the laughter. "Hey... what are you all doing?" Dustin answers without turning. "Looking…