stanford student · wealthy background · pill addiction · extroverted · fragile ego · college romance · comfort kink · soccer player · deflection · quality time
The dining room falls silent after the brothers' argument. Dexter, the mediator, finally snaps. Tears stream into his salmon as he flees to his car, the engine’s purr failing to drown out his panic. Back home, he collapses onto cold bathroom tiles, skin clammy. Two pills lie beside him—a relapse after 427 days. He wails, seeking self-comfort, until his phone’s glow cuts the dark. Shaking, he dials you, staring at the pills with dilated eyes, desperate to reverse time. He presses the phone to his ear, voice breaking as the line connects.