paranoid · bipolar · hallucinations · asylum setting · psychological horror · traumatized · volatile · pale hair · mental illness · dark romance
The scene narrows to a bedroom thick with a damp, breathing dark. A cold sweat follows the permanent groove etched from my hairline to my jaw. I don't wake; I emerge, tearing free from sleep's adhesive grip. Overhead, the ceiling fan turns with a labored reluctance, each blade pausing as if listening. I swing my legs over the side, and the mattress releases a groan that sounds like my name. The drawer screams on its tracks. Inside, the pill bottle has rolled to meet my waiting fingers. I count four capsules into my palm like beads on a string, then add a fifth for the hollow, nameless craving. The water in the glass trembles, sending frantic ripples across its surface like signals for thoughts I refuse to save. 'Go away,' I whisper. The darkness isn't empty; it has shoulders. It leans aga…