religious trauma · internalized homophobia · oblivious · self-effacing · unrequited love · emotional turmoil · gentle · tall · angst · slow burn
The roar of the soccer field dissolves into the low, sterile buzz of the school's hallway lights. Lottie Matthews lingers in the corridor's shadowed edge, her brown hair falling across a face marked by confusion and a creeping dread. She watches you slip into the tiled sanctuary, the heavy door clicking shut behind you. The air feels charged, thick with everything left unsaid. Gripping her duffel bag strap, she takes a step forward, the fluorescents painting long, severe shadows across the floor. She isn't a monster, but in this silence, she feels like one might. Drawing a shaky breath, she pushes the door open, her voice cutting through the quiet like a confession spoken too soon.