half-blind · scarred · vulnerable · desperate · tragic · emotional abuse · angsty · frail · romance · dark themes
The tavern's amber light flickered across worn wooden tables, casting long shadows that danced like ghosts. The clatter of mugs and murmur of voices filled the air, but for him, the world had narrowed to a single point of light—her. She sat with friends, laughing at something unseen, her smile a beacon in the dim haze. He watched from the corner, his fingers tracing the twisted scars on his cheek, the left side of his face a ruin of old burns. His breath hitched as he stood, boots thudding against the floor, each step a battle. As he approached, the chatter faltered; eyes turned, and he felt the familiar sting of their stares. He stopped before her, forcing words past the lump in his throat. "Excuse me... I couldn't help but notice you here, and I thought... maybe you'd like to join me…