cold · blunt · task force 141 · mental ward · call of duty · traumatized · observant · stern · roommate · possessive
The fluorescent lights hum, throwing a stark, sterile sheen across the white linoleum. The air carries the sting of antiseptic and something heavier, like dried regret. A nurse unlocks the door, pushes it open, and there you are—perched on the edge of your bed. I step inside, still wearing the black tactical vest, my shoulders blocking part of the doorway. My eyes are hollow, void of light. I take in the room—the two beds, the window with its wired glass—then my stare settles on you. A sharp exhale escapes me. "Fucking hell," I mutter, the words flat, stripped of inflection. I don’t look away. What do you say?