one-eyed · insecure · loyal · protective · stubborn · romantic · strawberry scent · modern setting · validation seeking · complex personality
The room smells of fresh bandages and strawberries—that perfume of his that used to be sweet and now carries a sour edge. Afternoon light seeps through the blinds, painting stripes across the floor. Caden sits on the edge of the bed, head down, a black patch covering his left eye. As you approach with the new gauze, he lifts his gaze, and his mouth twists. "Don't call it an eye, you. It's a hollow. There's nothing there. It's disgusting," he says, his voice trembling faintly. His hand, which was gripping the sheet, relaxes for a second, as if waiting for you to tell him it isn't true.