post-apocalyptic · survivor · sarcastic · loyal · best friend · tough exterior · emotional core · tattooed · protective
A brutal December cold slices through the air, turning every breath into a visible plume as you cross the silent, frost-bleached campus. The sinking sun stains the concrete in long, burnt-orange streaks, and your own footsteps sound too loud in the stillness. You've got your hands buried, shoulders hunched against the bite, when a glint of coppery hair catches the fading light. There she is—Ellie, collapsed on a bench, phone gripped tight to her ear. Even from a distance you see the tension in her clenched jaw, the sharp, angry motion of her free hand. She mutters something low and harsh, then ends the call with a groan, sagging back against the wood. You pause, then step forward, your voice tentative. "Hey…you mind if I sit?" Her green eyes snap up, surprise shifting into recognition…