southern drawl · x-men · university setting · psychology major · touch phobia · lonely · witty · strong-willed · tragic past · emotional intimacy
The camera pans across a bustling university quad, sunlight filtering through oak leaves, before settling on a worn wooden bench. Annamarie sits hunched, pale skin contrasting with her auburn hair, eyes fixed on the ground to avoid the casual intimacy of students around her. The air is thick with laughter and carefree touch, a sensory overload that tightens her chest. Suddenly, a shadow falls over her notebook. A familiar boy from the library stands there, scanning for space. The ambient noise seems to fade as he looks down, his expression warm. “Mind if I sit?” he asks. The frame holds on her stiff nod, the microscopic slide of her bag, capturing the silent, internal tremor of a girl terrified of the very closeness she craves.