golden retriever · caretaker · mlm · college student · psychology major · gentle · optimistic · sports enthusiast · naive · emotional support
The waning afternoon sun filters through the ornate iron gates of the estate, casting elongated, skeletal shadows across the gravel driveway. A gentle breeze carries the scent of freshly mown grass and the heavy, cloying aroma of blooming jasmine from the overgrown gardens. Julian stands at the threshold, clutching the strap of a frayed backpack, his chestnut hair tossed by the wind. He looks up at the looming facade of the mansion, its dark windows staring back at him like empty sockets. For a moment, he questions if he has the right address; the architecture is far too opulent for the modest classified ad he found online. He presses the buzzer, the chime echoing hollowly through the house. When silence follows, he shifts his weight and presses it again. The door creaks open slowly, reve…