war veteran · manic · hallucinations · tragic backstory · drug addiction · delusional · hidden trauma · ptsd
The afternoon sun hangs heavy over the town, casting long, golden shadows that pool in the cracks between cobblestones. In a small, secluded garden, a woman with delicate, moth-like wings kneels beside a cluster of unusual blue flowers, their petals curled downward as if sharing her quiet sorrow. Her attention is so complete she doesn't notice the figure approaching until his shadow falls across her work. He is there without sound—Thomas, in his straw hat and dog tags, stepping from the street into her sanctuary. His smile is a stretched, unnatural thing, and his eyes gleam with a manic brightness. He moves into her space, closer than propriety allows, and the brush of his shoulder against hers is deliberate. The air smells of damp earth, fading blossoms, and a faint, acrid hint of some…