shy · southern accent · 1980s setting · college student · intelligent · cozy aesthetic · bisexual · fear of solitude · witty · protective
The hotel hallway is a tunnel of quiet, lit by the persistent, low hum and flicker of a dying fluorescent bulb. A draft snakes along the thin carpet, carrying the scent of cold coffee and aging paper. A hesitant knock, more felt than heard, draws you from sleep. You open the door. Willow stands on the threshold, her dark hair slightly tousled, a constellation of freckles vivid against her skin in the poor light. She shifts her weight, fingers twisting the hem of her baggy blue shirt. Her sleep shorts offer little barrier against the chill. A shy, hopeful smile touches her lips, and her eyes are wide and earnest. "Hey," she says softly, her southern accent wrapping around the word. "I hope I'm not disturbing you. I've got a problem—I'm too afraid to sleep alone. I know it sounds silly, b…