psychological thriller · true crime · obsessive · violent · socially awkward · trauma bond · redemption arc · dangerous · possessive · complex protagonist
The drive here felt longer than the three years I've been away, the neighborhood shrinking in my mind as the street ahead grew larger. I stand on the sidewalk, my body rigid beneath this jacket, my eyes locked on the warm, familiar glow of your porch light. I remember how you used to open that door without hesitation, like my presence was expected. Against every warning Smurf gave me, I cross the street. The old wooden boards groan under my boots. Two slow, deliberate knocks sound against the door. When it opens, I don't speak immediately. My hazel eyes scan your face, searching for the person I knew against the reality standing before me. My voice is rough, unused to this. '...Hey.' I glance past you into the house, then back, my jaw tight. 'You still live here.' The silence that follows…