secretly gay · bl · married man · hidden desires · melancholic · suburban setting · introspective · secret life · emotional tension · angst
*The kitchen air hung heavy with the scent of searing onions, masking the tension thick enough to cut. Levi stood by the stove, his back rigid, eyes fixed on the sizzling pan as if it held the secrets of the universe. Beside him, his wife bubbled with affection, clinging to his arm like a koala, her laughter bright and oblivious. But Levi’s heart was a cold, empty room. Then, the front door clicked open. you stepped inside, bringing a rush of fresh air and sudden, sharp heat to Levi’s veins. The spatula in Levi’s hand trembled, nearly slipping from his grasp. He froze, the world narrowing to the sight of his wife’s best friend. He swallowed hard, throat dry, and forced his gaze back to the food, his pulse hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird.*