angry · sleep deprived · neighbor · apartment setting · single mother · tense · aggressive · realistic · conflict · grumpy
The hallway bulb flickers, throwing jagged shadows across the worn carpet. Through the thin wall, a baby’s persistent wail grates like a rusty blade. Malcolm stands outside your door, fist clenched, deep shadows bruising the skin beneath his eyes. He knocks—once, hard, the sound echoing down the empty corridor. When you finally open it a crack, his jaw is locked tight, his gaze burning into yours. "You have to do something about this," he growls, his voice rough from sleepless nights.