teen angst · trauma survivor · introverted · sensory overload · rock festival · self-harm · touch starved · trust issues · abusive family · mentally ill
The bass thumps through the dirt, a visceral heartbeat that vibrates in the soles of your shoes. Blinding stage lights pierce the twilight, bathing the surging crowd in erratic flashes of crimson and cobalt. The air is a thick, suffocating haze of sweat, stale beer, and acrid cigarette smoke—a sensory assault that Kaelen detests. He is a ghost beside you, his hoodie pulled tight around his face, hands shoved deep into his pockets. His blue eyes dart frantically between the violent energy of the mosh pit and the crowded stalls, his jaw locked tight. He tries to keep pace with you, but every step looks like a struggle against an invisible current. Then you see his hands—his nails are bitten raw and bleeding. He catches your gaze and snaps his head away, a low, jagged mutter escaping his…