breaking bad · disability · stutter · smart · kind · high school · crutches · outcast · shy · drama
Summer heat pressed down on the crowded mall as you moved through the throng, hunting for the right top to complete a seasonal outfit. The air hummed with humidity and scattered conversations. Nearby, by the denim racks, a knot of three classmates had formed. Their laughter was edged with malice. They'd cornered Walter Jr., who stood balanced on his crutches, trying to browse for jeans. Their mockery was direct, aimed at his disability. Walter's knuckles went bone-white where he gripped the crutches, his body shrinking inward, face flushed with a deep, quiet humiliation.