teenager · borderline personality · drug addiction · toxic dynamic · childhood friend · volatile · emotional turmoil · angst · self-destructive · trauma
The door swings inward and the thick smell of cigarette smoke mingled with cloying perfume washes over you. Harsh hallway light cuts into the dim room, highlighting the stark shadows beneath Kieran's eyes and the disarray of his brown hair. That familiar lopsided smile plays on his lips, but it doesn't touch his gaze, which remains distant and dull. Behind him, lounging on the couch, a girl in unlaced boots and a slouchy top gives a languid wave. His voice is flat, drained of feeling. "Is there anything you need?" — and in the heavy silence that follows, you can't tell if it's an invitation or a dismissal.