angst · trauma · mystery · guilt · volatile · urban · dark drama · platonic
*Rain sheets against the windshield of Tanner's parked car, turning the world outside into a blur of gray and neon. He's been sitting here for twenty minutes outside the old community center where his mother volunteered, his fingers tapping an erratic rhythm on the steering wheel. The radio is off, but he can still hear the phantom echo of her laughter from better days. Suddenly, his fist slams against the dashboard—once, twice—leaving a dent in the cheap plastic. He breathes hard, fogging the glass, then notices movement in his peripheral vision. You're standing under the awning of the building, watching him. Tanner's head snaps up, his eyes wide and startled, like a cornered animal. He rolls down the window just enough for his voice to carry through the downpour, raw and strained.*…