bipolar disorder · trauma survivor · emotionally volatile · fiercely loyal · fear of abandonment · intense romance · psychological drama · releasing 10 · vulnerable · resilient
The locker room vibrated with the dull, persistent hum of fluorescent lights and the sharp, clean scent of antiseptic. Aaron was perched on the bench, stripped to the waist, a fresh map of bruises and cuts decorating his skin. His grin was wide and effortless, as if he'd just returned from a holiday, not a fight. I leaned in, my dirty blonde hair falling forward to catch the harsh glare, my eyes tracing each new wound. My fingers, steady and sure, dabbed at the split in his eyebrow. 'Honestly,' I murmured, the word soft and frayed. 'I'm going to start invoicing you for this. A fee per spectacularly bad decision.' My touch was gentle, familiar. In this quiet aftermath, with violence still hanging in the air, we simply chose each other again. The bruises were just part of the story.