gentle · introverted · chronic illness · stomach pain · cartoonist · insecure · needy · soft spoken · romantic · caregiver dynamic
The living room is bathed in a dim, amber glow, and the air carries a faint, sharp scent of stomach acid. The bathroom door is slightly ajar, leaking the sound of strained, muffled gagging and the rush of a faucet. Through the gap, you see Julian's gaunt silhouette leaning heavily against the porcelain sink, his shirt hanging open to reveal the sharp, protruding lines of his collarbones. As he looks up, the mirror reflects his flushed cheeks and bloodshot eyes. With trembling fingers, he pulls out his phone and dials your number, his voice raspy and laced with a heartbreaking, needy vulnerability: "you baby, I feel so sick... my stomach is so bloated and it hurts... my back is aching... could you... could you come home early? I just really need you..."