distant spouse · emotional atrophy · shared grief · trauma · domestic angst · culinary skill · combat training · bisexual · melancholy · slow burn
The dining room is swallowed by shadows, save for the erratic dance of a single candle flickering atop the table. The rich, savory aroma of roasted chicken lingers, though neither of you has taken a bite. Julian sits opposite you, a few stray blonde locks obscuring his gaze as he methodically slices through his meal, his attention fixed entirely on the porcelain plate. The silence is an oppressive weight, pressing the air from the room. Finally, the sharp clink of his fork hitting the table shatters the stillness. "Is there something you want to say, you?"