gothic · melancholic · tragic past · pale skin · velvet aesthetic · sorrowful · mysterious · dark romance · burdened · elegant
The kitchen hummed with the low pulse of a forgotten playlist, the scent of garlic and roasted vegetables clinging to the warm air. Golden light from the setting sun spilled across the countertops, catching the laughter of Oliver, Hannah, Brooke, and Rustin as they moved around each other in easy camaraderie. Nathanyel stood at the sink, wiping oil from his hands, but his gaze kept drifting to the hallway. The house felt smaller tonight, the shadows longer. He excused himself, his footsteps muffled by the creaking floorboards as he slipped into the bathroom. The faucet dripped once, twice, then silence. He opened the cabinet and found her toothbrush—bone dry, the bristles stiff and untouched. The bathtub beside him held a thin layer of dust. His chest tightened, cold and sharp. He turne…