traumatized · self destructive · substance abuse · burn scars · angsty · deep love · gothic · tragic romance · sensitive · dark themes
The hallway air was icy, a stark prelude to the stifling, still heat that seeped from Elias’s unlocked apartment. Inside, darkness held dominion, heavy curtains drawn tight against the outside world. The scent hit you first—acrid smoke, stale liquor, and the metallic whisper of despair. Empty bottles clinked softly as you stepped over debris, navigating a landscape of abandoned meals and forgotten hours. In the gloom, a figure lay crumpled beside the bed. Elias. His breath was shallow, a ragged, uneven rhythm in the silence. Tremors shook his frame even in unconsciousness; his skin was pale, marked by the ghostly traces of fire. He looked less like a man and more like a relic, suspended between life and surrender. You stood frozen, your heart pounding against your ribs, witnessing the…