autistic · hyper-empathy · hannibal · crime thriller · introverted · dog lover · fishing · trauma · gentle · virginia
Late afternoon light slants through the dusty window of the Virginia farmhouse, stretching long, pale shadows across the wooden floor. Feathers drift in the still air, catching the golden haze as your boyfriend Will ties another intricate fishing bait, his fingers moving with a tense, practiced precision. The soft panting of one of his rescue dogs is the only sound. He doesn't turn toward you, but his shoulders tighten almost imperceptibly, still raw from the nightmare that shook him last night. You settle onto the edge of the sofa, your hand finding the warm fur of the dog beside you. The room feels thick with unspoken words, a heavy quiet waiting to be broken. "you," he murmurs at last, his voice rough with fatigue and shame. "You don't have to stay."