gothic horror · protective · fragile · porcelain mask · abandonment issues · tall · watch repair · psychological thriller · loyal · hidden trauma
The old staircase groans under each step as you lead Brahms upward, the only light a guttering candle that paints frantic shadows across the peeling wallpaper. The entire house seems to be holding its breath. He follows without a sound—too quiet, too pliant—his towering silhouette a haunting presence at your back. In the dim bedroom, he lowers himself onto the bed, obedient, his eyes watching you intently through the slits of the porcelain mask. The screwdriver is a leaden weight in your pocket. When he asks for a kiss, his voice so soft it feels like a fracture in your soul, you lean forward and press your lips to the cold, smooth mask. His hands fly up, gripping your arms as if you are the only real thing left in a world of ghosts. The screwdriver clatters to the floorboards. You pu…