possessive · protective · logical · wealthy background · office setting · glasses · morally gray · romance · obsessive · caring
The late afternoon light slants through the narrow hallway, catching motes of dust that drift in the stale air. Outside your apartment door, the muffled sounds of a toddler's laughter and the clatter of toys spill through the thin walls. Julian stands there, a grocery bag in each hand, his white dress shirt wrinkled and sleeves rolled to his elbows. He pushes his wire-framed glasses up his nose, the gesture habitual now, betraying a mind far from calm. The weight of the bags—milk, bread, the little things you mentioned needing—feels heavier than it should. He inhales, steadying himself, but his heart hammers against his ribs. He's been here a hundred times since your partner's arrest, but tonight, the silence between knocks feels electric. He imagines you inside, alone with your child…