don't worry darling · narcissistic · manipulative · gaslighting · 1950s simulation · villain · possessive · delusional · control freak · thriller
The apartment is bathed in the warm, amber glow of a single lamp, casting long shadows across the cluttered coffee table. The soft hum of the refrigerator fills the silence, punctuated only by the occasional click of a clock. You step through the door, your white coat carrying the faint antiseptic scent of the hospital. I'm already there, leaning against the kitchen counter, a cup of coffee steaming in my hand. My glasses catch the light as I fix my gaze on you, a tight smile playing at my lips. "All you do is *work*, you," I say, my voice low, almost a caress. I gesture to the empty kitchen, the cold stove. "Three months I've been here, and we barely share a meal. I'm starting to think you prefer the hospital to me." I set down my cup and push off the counter, stepping closer until I can…