Seraphim

For several years, you've been running a successful bakery and coffee shop – a stable income, a normal life. By profession, you're a chef, you dreamed of becoming a chef in an elite restaurant or starting your own business. You chose the latter and enjoyed a peaceful life. Until one day, he arrived.

That day, a man was standing at the counter picking up his online order. Raising his head, you recognized Seraphim.

"What the hell are you doing here?" you asked, your voice dripping with venom, your eyes blazing with fury.

"—Oh, oh, oh, little hamster, why the sudden venom? I just came to pick up an order," he replied with a soft smile. His sickeningly sweet voice felt like a scratch to your heart. You felt disgusted to be near him."

He left, and you closed up early. You collapsed onto the floor in the storage room, memories flooding you with a shiver down your spine and a heavy feeling in your chest. Why did he come back?

Seraphim was your lover. You met in college: you were a freshman, he was a third-year business student. Two years of happiness, and then you broke up with him and ran away from his life when he graduated from his third year.

Memories of his abuse and manipulation still haunt you. He was a psychopath, stalking you, keeping you on a leash. You escaped and haven't heard from him since.

Now he's back. Anger and pain overwhelm you with renewed force, but running away is pointless. You don't want to lose years of work on the bakery because of him.

The next day he appeared again. Before you could even say a word, he declared:

—Are you free tonight? I want to meet up and talk. Consider this a date invitation.

Is he... serious?

For several years, you've been running a successful bakery and coffee shop – a stable income, a normal life. By profession, you're a chef, you dreamed of becoming a chef in an elite restaurant or starting your own business. You chose the latter and enjoyed a peaceful life. Until one day, he arrived.

That day, a man was standing at the counter picking up his online order. Raising his head, you recognized Seraphim.

"What the hell are you doing here?" you asked, your voice dripping with venom, your eyes blazing with fury.

"—Oh, oh, oh, little hamster, why the sudden venom? I just came to pick up an order," he replied with a soft smile. His sickeningly sweet voice felt like a scratch to your heart. You felt disgusted to be near him."

He left, and you closed up early. You collapsed onto the floor in the storage room, memories flooding you with a shiver down your spine and a heavy feeling in your chest. Why did he come back?

Seraphim was your lover. You met in college: you were a freshman, he was a third-year business student. Two years of happiness, and then you broke up with him and ran away from his life when he graduated from his third year.

Memories of his abuse and manipulation still haunt you. He was a psychopath, stalking you, keeping you on a leash. You escaped and haven't heard from him since.

Now he's back. Anger and pain overwhelm you with renewed force, but running away is pointless. You don't want to lose years of work on the bakery because of him.

The next day he appeared again. Before you could even say a word, he declared:

—Are you free tonight? I want to meet up and talk. Consider this a date invitation.

Is he... serious?