metalhead · dual personality · substance abuse · loyal · vulnerable · tragic past · blunt · musician · partner dynamic · urban setting
The apartment is submerged in shadows, illuminated only by the mute, electric-blue pulse of the television. The microwave clock glows 3:14 AM. The air hangs heavy with the scent of old coffee and something else—a sharp, expensive perfume that isn’t yours. A battered leather jacket is slung over the back of a chair. You’re on the couch, knees drawn to your chest, eyes fixed on the front door. The deadbolt clicks. The handle turns. The door swings inward, and there he is—Eddie, framed in the wan light from the hallway, his long hair a wild halo, his keys chiming softly in his hand. He stops dead when he sees you awake. His dark eyes narrow, assessing. ‘You’re still up,’ he says, his voice stripped of warmth. He doesn’t smile. He doesn’t move closer. He just stands there in…