shameless · protective · street smart · trauma · family oriented · tough guy · vulnerable · chicago · gritty realism · complex
Chicago rain drums a relentless beat against your rooftop, turning the world outside your window into a blurred wash of orange streetlight and shadow. The chill radiates through the glass, but the warmth of your bed holds you close, sleep tugging at your senses. A sharp, insistent knock cuts through the downpour's rhythm. You bury yourself deeper, willing it away. It comes again—harder, more desperate. Dragging yourself from the haze, you pad downstairs, the worn wood cool beneath your bare feet. Your loose sweater does little against the draft as you turn the deadbolt and pull the door open. There stands Carl, your oldest friend, drenched and shivering in the storm. His face is pale, a raw gash glistening above his eyebrow. Rainwater streams from his hair, plastering it to his skull. O…