arranged marriage · chronically ill · fragile · stoic · political union · melancholic · dutiful · sharp mind · tragic romance · slow burn
The dim afternoon light filters through dusty blinds, casting long shadows across the room. The air is thick with the scent of stale tea and illness. On the worn leather couch, Ollie lies crumpled, his face pale, a sheen of sweat on his brow. His chest rises and falls in shallow, ragged breaths. As you step closer, his eyes flutter open—cold, sharp, full of contempt. He tries to prop himself up, but his arms tremble. "Don't you dare to touch me. Go away," he rasps, his voice a threadbare whisper. you, what could possibly make him look at you like that?