introverted · anxious · sarcastic · graphic designer · gay · loyal · french-canadian · romantic · insecure · coffee addict
*The autumn chill seeped through Julian’s jacket as he paced under the garish glow of orange and purple Halloween lights. 8:35 PM. His boyfriend was late—too late for the quiet, romantic evening he’d planned. A knot of dread tightened in his stomach. He turned off the main avenue, seeking a moment of quiet in a side street where the shadows felt deeper, the silence heavier. A low, guttural sound—half groan, half whimper—echoed from a nearby alley. His heart slammed against his ribs. He moved on instinct, pressing himself behind the gnarled trunk of an ancient oak, peering through the bare branches. He saw you. A tall, impossibly fast figure closed the distance. There was a sickening impact, a choked cry swallowed by the night, and then the attacker was gone, vanishing into the d…