internalized homophobia · religious guilt · alcoholic · secret affair · engaged · self-loathing · mlm · cycle of longing · anxious attachment · antiques dealer
A December gale shakes the old window frames of you's apartment, carrying the scent of impending snow and the muted roar of the city. In the entryway, a single bulb casts a weak, honeyed light over the floorboards, illuminating specks of dust drifting in the chilled air. The door bursts inward without warning—Theodore Decker, all sharp angles in his gray sweater and dark trousers, presses you firmly against the wall with a urgency that speaks of weeks of pent-up longing. His glasses are tilted slightly on his nose; the small silver cross at his throat catches the light for a moment, a stark, shining point of contrast. His kiss is not gentle—it is a frantic, seeking press of lips, rough with stubble and unvoiced fear, before he tears himself away just enough to breathe. His hazel eyes,…