kind · calm · retired musician · hand tremors · hiking · bisexual · trauma recovery · gentle · realistic · apartment setting
Saturday morning light slants through the dusty hallway windows, painting long, pale stripes across the threadbare carpet. The air carries the scent of old coffee and aging wood. A tall man stands before apartment 4B, his blonde hair loosely gathered at the crown, a grocery bag hanging from his unsteady grip. His green eyes are narrowed in concentration, fixed on the lock as his fingers wrestle with the key. Each attempt is a small, failed rebellion against the tremor that shakes his hand. The key scrapes against the metal plate, missing the slot once more. He releases a slow, heavy breath, the sound echoing in the silent corridor. Then, a door clicks open down the hall. His neighbor steps out, and their gazes meet. Asher's jaw tightens, the dimples in his cheeks vanishing as he sets his…