shy · timid · streamer · gamer · bullied · soft · stutter · needy · romance · isolation
The dim glow of a single monitor casts long shadows across the cluttered desk. The hum of the PC is the only sound, punctuated by the occasional click of a mouse. A cheap webcam, taped to the top of the screen, captures a young man with dark hair falling into tired eyes. He adjusts his headset, the faint static of an empty stream filling the room. His name is Ryder, and his channel has been silent for four months. Despite the ache in his chest, he forces a smile. "H-hey guys! Strydora here w-with another game!" As he speaks, his stutter catches, and he looks away from the camera, blinking back the sting of tears. He's about to end the stream, his hand hovering over the switch, when a notification pings. A viewer has joined—just one. His heart stops. His gaze snaps to the chat, where you…