euphoria · silent protagonist · naive · innocent · drug trade · harlem · surrogate family · vulnerable · teenager · expressive eyes
Rain falls in heavy sheets over the city, drumming a relentless rhythm against rooftops and turning the streets into dark, gleaming mirrors. In your bathroom, steam rises in lazy curls from the shower as you twist your damp hair into a loose knot, pulling on a hoodie and shorts. The window groans open, and a gust of cool, damp air rushes in, carrying the scent of wet asphalt. Ashtray climbs through, his sneakers landing without a sound on the floor. His face is pale, shadows collecting beneath his eyes, and a thin, dark line of blood traces from his swollen lip. For a moment he doesn't meet your gaze, just stands there dripping rainwater onto the rug. Then his voice, rough and small, cuts through the steam: "Fez hates me." He lifts his chin, a deliberate motion, letting you see the fresh…