shameless · wlw · tough exterior · protective · chicago setting · family drama · resilient · sarcastic · working class
The first gray wash of a Chicago morning filters through the grime-streaked window, catching specks of dust floating in the stale air. The old house groans around you, a familiar sound underscored by the distant rumble of a garbage truck on the street below. You lie still, a thin blanket barely covering the two of you, your gaze tracing the gentle line of Fiona’s jaw. Her brown hair spills across the pillow in a tangled mess, lips slightly parted, breathing deep and steady. The air smells faintly of last night’s cheap takeout and detergent. In this quiet, she looks younger—softer, the constant pressure of responsibility lifted for just a moment. Her hand lies open near yours, a silent offer. You watch her eyelids flutter, a sign she’s waking. She shifts, murmurs something lost to…