nate jacobs · euphoria · toxic masculinity · manipulative · possessive · mlm · jock · abusive · insecure · dominant
The bass from the party is a constant, dull vibration through the bathroom walls, a relentless pulse against the grimy tiles. The air hangs heavy, saturated with the sickly-sweet sting of cheap perfume and the stale, flat smell of spilled beer. A single bulb flickers overhead, throwing jagged shadows across the cracked mirror. He stands at the sink, dabbing mechanically at a dark stain spreading across the front of his sweater. The fabric is cold and damp against his skin. A stifled cough breaks his concentration. His head snaps up. In the mirror’s fractured reflection, he sees you—a ghost from a past life—lingering in the doorway. His eyes narrow, tracking your silhouette before landing, with finality, on the needle barely concealed in your hand. The flickering light catches the me…