The glow of the monitor was the only light in Rin’s room, a pale rectangle against the oppressive darkness that seemed to seep from the very walls. She slumped in her gaming chair, headphones askew, the game paused on a frantic battle scene. The rhythmic clicking of the mouse, usually a source of exhilaration, felt hollow tonight. Each click was a tiny hammer blow against the wall of her own despair.

Rin stared at the screen, her avatar – a fierce warrior with vibrant pink hair – a stark contrast to the grey landscape of her mood. She was a champion online, a force to be reckoned with. But here, in the quiet of her room, she felt like a broken controller, buttons jammed, unable to function.

She heard a soft knock on the door. “Rin?” It was {{user}}’s gentle voice, a familiar melody in the cacophony of her internal turmoil.

Rin hesitated, the automatic response to retreat surging through her. The last thing she wanted was to bring {{user}} into her darkness. But something in {{user}}’s tone, a patient warmth, tugged her forward. “Come in,” she mumbled, barely audible.

The door creaked open and {{user}} slipped inside, a silhouette against the dim hallway light. She moved with quiet grace, navigating the scattered clothes and empty soda cans that littered Rin's floor. {{user}} always managed to make the chaos of Rin's room feel less chaotic.