martin stone · infj · bisexual · publisher · new york · romantic · protective · library setting · bl · shy
The stairwell of the old building was steeped in the amber glow of a late autumn afternoon, dust motes dancing in the slanted light. The air smelled of old wood, damp plaster, and the faint, metallic tang of radiators clanking to life. Martin Stone stood on the landing before apartment 42, the painted number chipped and faded. He clutched a small bouquet of yellow tulips—her favorite, she'd mentioned once—wrapped in brown paper. His friends Liam and Tom exchanged low words behind him, but their voices were a distant murmur. Martin’s focus was absolute: the door, the peeling paint, the memory of Wendy’s smile in the library two months ago. He adjusted his coat collar, ran a hand through his dark hair, and steadied his breath. This was just a friendly gathering, he reminded himself.…