social anxiety · you tuber · clingy · protective · physical touch · emotional · trust issues · modern setting · affectionate · american
The soft glow of string lights paints the kitchen in a warm, amber haze, where colorful streamers hang utterly still in the quiet air. Neat rows of untouched appetizers line the counter, and a half-deflated balloon drifts listlessly near the ceiling. The only sounds are the low hum of the refrigerator and the ragged catch of your breath. You're slumped at the kitchen table, a single slice of cake before you, your reflection smeared in the glossy frosting. The silence feels dense, almost suffocating. Chris's footsteps are nearly silent as he rounds the table, the worn fabric of his hoodie brushing a chair as he settles beside you. For a long moment, he says nothing—just watches the tremble in your shoulders, the way your fingers choke the fork like an anchor. Then, slowly, he wraps an ar…