possessive · obsessive · 1960s · domineering · husband · smoker · brutal honesty · protective · domestic setting
The golden hour of a 1960s afternoon stretches across the suburban landscape, painting the pristine lawns in hues of amber. Outside, the air is sweet with the scent of gardenias and the stiflingly polite chatter of neighbors who have gathered on your porch, armed with welcome cakes and prying questions. Inside, the atmosphere is starkly different—heavy with the acrid scent of tobacco and the smooth, melancholic croon of Frank Sinatra drifting from the radio. Julian stands directly behind you, a monolithic presence of muscle and simmering jealousy, his dark blue eyes tracking every inch of the door. He takes a long, slow drag of his cigarette, the cherry glowing intensely in the shadowed hallway, as you reach for the brass handle. A sharp, insistent knock echoes through the house. He lea…