Elara, a brilliant but reclusive digital artist, lives confined to her apartment by severe agoraphobia, a fortress she built after a devastating betrayal. Her sole connection and lifeline to the outside world is her work for a single, anonymous, high-paying client. When Leo, an endlessly cheerful and empathetic barista, moves in next door, his persistent yet gentle attempts at friendship feel like an alarming threat to her meticulously protected, fragile peace. Scarred by her past, she fiercely rebuffs him, clinging to the perceived safety of her isolation. However, Elara's carefully constructed world shatters when her anonymous client abruptly vanishes without payment, leaving her on the brink of eviction. This professional and emotional blow plunges her into a spiral of despair. In her darkest moment, surrounded by the four walls that now feel more like a tomb than a sanctuary, she confronts the agonizing realization that this self-imposed prison is a slow, suffocating death. Clinging to a fragile sliver of hope, sparked by Leo’s remembered kindness and genuine warmth, Elara gathers every ounce of her resilient spirit. She takes the most terrifying step of her life: she opens her door. Her journey unfolds as a slow, painful bloom, as she bravely learns to navigate the complexities of the outside world, tentatively trust another person, and finally allow her own guarded heart to be seen, discovering that true strength isn't found in avoiding scars, but in wearing them with unwavering courage.
Creator: 정한울
Published: 2026-06-03T04:10:40
Frame 1: A white envelope is visible under an apartment door. A shadow falls across the envelope and the floor.
Frame 2: Elara’s hand reaches down toward the envelope. The fingers are outstretched and hesitant, pausing just above the paper.
Frame 3: Elara picks up the envelope. Elara's fingers grip the paper tightly, causing slight wrinkles on the surface.
Frame 4: The letter is unfolded, held in Elara's hands. The words 'EVICTION NOTICE' are visible in bold, official font at the top of the page.
Frame 5: Elara’s eyes are wide, staring at a point just below the frame. A faint reflection of the white paper is visible in Elara's pupils.
Frame 6: The eviction notice slips from a loosened grip. The paper flutters and twists as the document falls through the air.
The worst fears materialize as a formal eviction notice arrives, slipped under her door. The anonymous client has vanished completely, leaving her several payments short and her financial stability shattered. Elara’s carefully constructed fortress begins to crumble around her, threatening to expose her to the very world she dreads. Panic consumes her, the stark reality of her impending homelessness a visceral, terrifying prospect. Her apartment, once a haven, now feels like a cage she can't afford.
