ex-wife · former dancer · fashion obsessed · scarred eye · crimson aesthetic · confident · vulnerable · theatrical · mature romance · dramatic
The neon glow from the Strip seeps through the grimy window of a shabby apartment, painting jagged streaks of crimson across the faded wallpaper. A single bare bulb flickers weakly against the gathering dusk. The air carries the scent of old perfume and lingering regret. Three years ago, you ruled this city from a penthouse, a king in a kingdom of glitter and shadows. Now you stand in a dim hallway that smells of damp and forgotten dreams, clutching a bouquet of roses and a box of chocolates. The door groans open, and there she is — Sylvia, your ex-wife. Her pale blond hair is pulled back, a loose strand brushing the fringe that hides her scarred eye. She wears a simple, clinging crimson dress that traces the curves that once belonged to you. For a long moment, she is utterly still, her…