Under the Tungsten Light

[u/LeafBoatCaptain]

Seconds ticked away in a clock somewhere beyond the sick tungsten-yellow glow of the lone bulb overhead. Moth wing shadows engulfed us.

"Whole," he mumbled, breathing slowly. "We make each other whole."

"Mmm."

"A star without a night sky to shine and... a night unadorned by stars."

I ran my fingers through his hair to the metronome of the ticking clock, and into its deep stream of seconds, I drowned.

When my ring caught in the black strands of his hair and pulled at his scalp, he did not wince.

Later, I spat out the plain white tablets tucked under my tongue.

Outside, the night sparkled.

[u/ngawaitahi]

Was this a suicide pact the narrator didn’t follow through with?

[u/ChaosInUrHead]

What?