a seam splits her spine, elena is convinced her bones have been hollowed out and filled with something too heavy to carry. she’s been accused of murder, but never of being relaxed. the suggestion of something in the waiting-dark becomes reality as arms slide around her waist. for half a second it could be anything ... a mistake, a memory, or, the taxman come to collect.
her body doesn’t wait to react, hand already slipping in her bag, the motion following is well-practiced. sharp hissing cuts the quiet.
・ @rustrail + cody charpentier ⤷ “it burns ... it burns.”
in certain light, affection is a threat — or at least it is when she’s the last to leave the bar. “what the shit, cody?” ribs ache from her bruising heart. elena finally lowers the pepper spray, “baby, stop being dramatic. you’re not dyin’ — but if you see god, tell me if she’s disappointed.”









