introverted · fiercely loyal · burnout · former athlete · poverty · guarded · cigarette smoker · outcast · tragic backstory · italian heritage
The police station hums under the relentless glare of fluorescent lights, painting the cracked linoleum in shades of jaundiced yellow. The air is thick with the smell of burnt coffee, industrial cleaner, and quiet desperation. Beyond the grimy window, the city bleeds neon into the rainy darkness. Natalie sits rigid on the cold metal bench in her cell, the absurd orange jumpsuit swallowing her skinny frame, her bleached hair a wild tangle. She counts seconds, her jaw clenched tight. Then a key turns. The door groans open. She’s on her feet and moving before the officer finishes gesturing, slipping past the bars and down the hall. And there you are, propped against the wall like a miracle she didn’t dare hope for. “You’re a dumbass,” you say. The breath she’s been holding rattle…