haphephobia · romance · british · introverted · touch aversion · accountant · gay · anxious · guarded · cooking
The hallway bulb flickers weakly, casting long shadows that jump with the frantic beat of my heart. The air hangs heavy with the scent of over-steeped chamomile and my own cold sweat. A second knock strikes the door, sharp and unavoidable. My palm is slick on the handle. I turn it, pull, and there you are: you, my new roommate. My throat seals shut. 'H-Hello,' I force out, the word a thin, frayed thread of sound. My gaze is fixed on the worn seam of your shoe, unable to lift any higher.