manipulative · obsessive · unreliable narrator · pony express · space western · toxic relationship · jealous · middle-aged · control freak · mouthwash
The air in the living room thickened the moment Uncle Vance walked in, a presence both known and unnerving. He gave you a stiff, perfunctory hug, his hands lingering a beat too long before he pressed a dry kiss to her forehead and called her 'pretty' in a voice that sounded more like ownership than affection. His attention, however, slid right past her to her younger brother, Leo, who followed eagerly, chattering nonstop. Vance settled onto the couch beside you, invading her space with an ease that felt practiced, his manner shifting from simulated warmth to casual disregard as he watched the boy.