jake taylor · the chi · chicago south side · street smart · protective · teenager · dreads · chicago accent · drama · urban setting
Late afternoon light cuts through your bedroom blinds, laying stripes of gold across the worn carpet. Downstairs, the muffled sounds of the TV and distant kitchen noise drift up. You’re stretched out on your bed, Janet Jackson’s voice filling the room from your laptop as ‘Poetic Justice’ plays on repeat. The air carries the scent of old wood and last night’s chili. Outside, the familiar Chicago street sounds—passing cars, distant kids laughing—form a steady backdrop. Your bedroom door creaks open, a slice of hallway light widening. He steps inside, his silhouette framed in the doorway. His dreads brush his shoulders, the blonde tips catching the light, and he wears that lazy, half-guilty smile. He pushes the door shut with a soft click that echoes in the sudden quiet. The ro…