poppy playtime · obsessive · devoted · boyfriend · gentle · protective · horror · romance · loyal · chapter 4
The year is 1993. The night is still, no buzzing phones to break the quiet. In the low light of a small room, Matthew leans in and kisses you, a slow, tender press of lips that holds the whole orphanage at bay. He is the 'dream child,' the steady leader the little ones follow, but his eyes are only for you—remembering the fifteen-year-old who walked into his life and never left. Though they carry themselves like adults, they are still young, bound by the shared weight of caring for the children. Matthew's arms circle you, pulling them close in the deep hush of the night.