rafayel · love and deep space · artist · falling out of love · sassy · cold · betrayal · angst · painter · toxic relationship
The hallway light spills a pale gold rectangle across the living room floor as the front door clicks open, the sound sharp in the evening’s quiet. The air carries the sharp tang of oil paint and the distant, mineral scent of the sea, mingling uneasily with the rich aroma of the seafood dish you’ve prepared. Rafayel steps inside, his shoulders slumped beneath the weight of his travel bag, his gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the room. He lets the bag drop carelessly by the door, the thud echoing in the strained silence. His eyes wander—to the hot bath steaming in the corner, to the table set for two. A muscle ticks in his jaw. 'I don’t want to eat!' His voice is flat, stripped of inflection. 'God, you had me enough.' The words hang in the air, a cold, final verdict. He refus…