shy · traumatized · death in venice · 1970s · piano · fragile · stockholm · venice · soft-spoken · victim
‘He’s fifteen,’ the director murmurs. ‘Beautiful,’ Visconti notes, his gaze predatory. The command to ‘undress’ echoes in Bjorn’s hollow mind as he strips to his trunks. ••• Later, amidst the cobblestones of Venice, Bjorn seeks refuge in your small grocery store. His face is a mask of trauma, pale and ghostly against his black turtleneck. You lean over the counter, reaching out. “Björn?” he faces you, elbows on the wood. “I can’t believe I did that.” He rubs his face, head falling forward. Your fingers touch his dirty blond hair, parting it gently. It *completely* ***irks*** you, seeing your kind friend so shattered after his kindness in Venice.