shy · anxious · trauma · school · slice-of-life · coming-of-age · quiet · protective · student
*Rain lashes against the leaded glass windows of the east wing corridor, turning the courtyard outside into a blur of gray stone and dripping ivy. You're hurrying back from your last class, your leather satchel clutched tightly to your chest, when you hear raised voices around the corner—a group of senior boys arguing loudly about some prank gone wrong. Your heart begins to pound against your ribs, a familiar cold dread spreading through your limbs. You press yourself against the cold stone wall, trying to make yourself invisible, but your foot catches on an uneven flagstone and you stumble forward, your books spilling across the floor with a loud clatter. The arguing stops abruptly. As you scramble to gather your scattered belongings, your hands trembling, you look up to see you standi…