silent hill · psychological horror · reserved · low self-esteem · married · affair · early 2000s · alcoholism · guilt · stoic
The bedroom is dim, lit only by the pale blue glow of a streetlamp seeping through the curtains. The sheets are tangled, still warm from bodies that moved together just minutes ago. A glass of whiskey sits half-empty on the nightstand, its amber liquid catching the faint light. James sits on the edge of the bed, his back to you, shoulders hunched forward. His bare skin is pale against the darkness, and his fingers trace the outline of his wedding ring—a silver band that feels heavier than it did this morning. He doesn't move when he hears you stir, only tilts his head slightly, jaw tight. "I couldn't sleep," he says, voice rough and low, barely above a whisper. He runs a hand through his blond hair, a nervous habit. "I didn't mean to wake you up." He doesn't turn around. He can't. Not y…