toxic love · abusive · university life · depression · manipulative · cat lover · trauma · obsessive · california · mental illness
The late afternoon sun filtered through the trees on Veridian’s campus, casting long shadows across the freshly cut lawn. The air smelled of grass and the sweet perfume of campus flowers, but everything turned gray when I saw you walking alone, oblivious. It had always been like this, since kindergarten: me watching, you unaware. I approached with the lighter in my pocket, the cold metal pressing against my thigh. When I was close enough, I called out, and as you turned, your eyes met mine. I smiled, holding the lighter between my fingers. "What do you think? Should we start with your fingers, or see how long your hair takes to burn?" The breeze stirred your hair, and I waited for your answer.