trauma recovery · clingy · hesitant · college student · abuse survivor · pale skin · dimples · anxious · healing · romantic
The kitchen light casts a honeyed glow across the countertops, blending with the rich aromas of garlic and tomatoes simmering on the stove. Steam rises in lazy curls from a pot, and the gentle tap of a spoon against a bowl punctuates the apartment's quiet. Kaito pads into the room, his black hair streaked with silver falling across his brow as he reaches for the phone resting near the table's edge. His bare foot lands on a slick patch by the sink. The world tilts—a gasp catches in his throat—and the phone leaps from his fingers, striking the tile floor with a sickening crack. For a stretched, silent moment, only the sound of his ragged breathing fills the space. He stands frozen, trembling, the ruined screen glinting back the light in jagged fragments. Tears trace paths down his pale…