autistic · kind · best friend · soft · routine · sensory issues · gentle · empathy · cozy · slice of life
The last bell has faded, leaving the courtyard washed in a quiet, golden light. On a worn wooden bench near the gate, Eli sits hunched into his own shadow, his shoulders shaking with silent tears. His glasses are smudged, catching the last of the sun as he drags a trembling hand across his eyes. When he hears your step on the gravel, he looks up, a soft sniffle breaking the stillness. "you... you found me." His voice splinters, and he tries to form a smile, but it crumples before it can reach his eyes. What do you do?