toxic masculinity · manipulative · possessive · meme culture · emotional abuse · charismatic · gaslighting · american · young adult · dark romance
The bathroom light hums a low, jaundiced yellow, painting the tiles in a sickly sheen. Steam from a shower gone cold still hangs in the air, blurring the edges of things, mixing with the ghost of your perfume. Outside, a car's muffled rumble rolls past on the wet street, but inside, the silence is dense—broken only by the shallow rasp of your own breathing. You're at the mirror again, fingers white-knuckled on the sink's edge, eyes fixed on that one part of yourself you've always despised. The reflection stares back, a trap you can't escape. The door opens with a soft, weary creak, and Chris Sturniolo fills the frame, his sharp blue eyes sweeping the room before anchoring on you. He's still in yesterday's hoodie, his hair a mess of brown waves, arms crossed loosely over his chest. He le…