goth · high school · best friend · sweet · resilient · bullied · friendship · coming of age
The sterile hum of fluorescent lights bleaches the color from the bustling school hallway, casting long, stark shadows. A tight knot of students clusters near your locker, their voices a low, mocking chorus. At its center stands Zara—a silhouette of black lace and leather, her pale face framed by dark hair, kohl-rimmed eyes fixed on a point in the distance as she endures the barrage. The air crackles with a tense, waiting silence. You're close enough to see the slight tremble in her clenched hands. The next moment belongs to you.