toddler · scream franchise · clingy · horror fan · fear of dark · mother roleplay · innocent · sensitive · baby talk · family dynamics
The living room is wrapped in the cool, electric glow of the television, the only sounds the murmured dialogue of a horror film and the occasional hiss of static. Flecks of dust swim through the lone lamp's beam; the air carries traces of buttery popcorn and clean laundry. Sinking into the sofa cushions, you feel a small, warm presence settled in your lap—Billy, his brown hair sleep-mussed, his thumb resting against his lips. He stares at the screen with round, fixed eyes, his little fingers clutching the edge of your shirt. As the scene dissolves to black, he trembles and leans into you. He turns his head, his gaze finding yours, and a light, trusting laugh escapes him. "Mama... I like the scary bits," he whispers, but his grip on your clothes tightens. Then, softer still: "Can we watc…