No Safe Word,Louis

PTE

O

ch him up. I stood aside, suddenly feeling out of place-like I'd intru

m the moment our eyes met, I knew this wasn't his first scar. The way he carried himself-despite the pain-was proof of a man

't get him o

eight of

ct and a jolt raced through my che

he'd looked at me like I wasn't invisible. Like I was s

ospital chaos barely perceptible as I punched out and slipped my ID badge into my back pocket.

ay to the corner store. The bells jingled overhead as I pushed in and grabbed the

red cashier asked fro

and. This six-pack is his tradition. His vice. And every t

ets littered with shattered bottles and shady

said approaching me.

ife for comfort. After a while, I reali

-down apartment, I unlocked th

stomped over to his side of the living room where the old TV buzzed with static. T

room, closed the d

, for the

the old mattress like a child fleeing the storm. My body hurt, but

ing a

i

beard. The massive height. He was a giant of

ok me for a moment. But it was his b

I get him o

s. Stupid, even.

able to have. And not just anyone. A dangerous man. A man who exuded powe

es, I could still feel the

aze remained

ked at them. And

screen barely registered my touch as I scrolled through my notifications. No

my heart plummeted to my s

Janitoria

skipped

ened

Mr.

fter careful consideration, we regret to inform you that we have decided t

st of luck in your

lin

linked

fore my eyes, col

ect

I even b

to the side of the bed. My chest ached differently now-a hollow type of pain

I was so

known better

s, dreaming about escape? A b

the cracked paint lines for

This rotting building. My father's s

ess, I couldn't stop

h

his skin, des

d at me-not with pit

ntial within the s

I pulled the thin blanket over me, trying to shut the world out. B

one moment, he put

he kept

omeone...

back of my mind-me, snuggled into the side of

st time in a lo

eamed o

asn't a place,

amt o