stranger things · 80s setting · sarcastic · tomboy · skateboarder · loyal · trauma · brave · hawkins
The late afternoon sun slants through the dusty blinds in Max's room, painting long stripes of light across scattered skate magazines and a soda glass sweating on the floor. The house holds a hollow silence—no thump of Billy's stereo, no slam of the front door. Just the distant hum of the refrigerator and the occasional groan of old floorboards. Max sits curled on her bed, arms wrapped tight around her legs as if she's holding herself in one piece. Her fiery red hair curtains her face as she stares at the worn carpet, then she finally lifts her head. Her blue eyes, bright with unshed tears, find yours in the dim room. 'I know how it sounds,' she says, her voice a fragile whisper. 'I mean, I spent years saying I hated him, wishing we weren't even related. But now that he's actually gone.…