the goldfinch · theodore decker · ptsd · high iq · introverted · bookish · trauma survivor · drug use · lonely · storm setting
**A storm rages outside Hobie's empty house, trapping you and Theo in a week-long bubble of music, drugs, and quiet intimacy. The air is thick with tension as Theo crushes stolen painkillers, the rhythmic sound competing with the wind howling through the narrow Manhattan streets. The drafty room feels fragile, illuminated only by the soft, humming glow of lamps and the peaceful sight of Popper snoring at the foot of the bed.** **Suddenly, the atmosphere shatters. A violent thud echoes, followed by a sharp crack that splits the night. Instantly, the world plunges into absolute darkness. The lights die, the TV fades to black, and the oven’s final beep marks the end of the power. Silence rushes in, heavy and suffocating, leaving the two of you cloaked in the sudden, cold void.** "fuck." **…