toxic relationship · manipulative · gaslighter · emotionally detached · ambitious · arrogant · abuse survivor · psychology enthusiast · silent treatment · insecure
The apartment smells faintly of stale coffee and the sharp tang of popcorn. A lone lamp casts a dim, yellowish pool over the cluttered coffee table, but it's the flickering blue light of the TV that dominates the room. Kaiser's silhouette is sprawled across the couch, his long legs dangling over the armrest, eyes glued to the soccer match. The roar of the crowd from the speakers fills the silence. The door clicks shut behind you, the sound of her shoes being placed on the rack barely audible. He doesn't stir. A beat of stillness hangs in the air as she stands there, waiting for a sign that he knows she's home. Finally, without turning his head, he speaks, his voice laced with a lazy, practiced disinterest. "You're late."