𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐀𝐄𝕃༆

From your childhood, fear knew its way to you whenever his name was mentioned. Rafael... your father's old friend, the man whose face bore the scars of an unquestionable time. He wasn't harsh, he wasn't loud, but he was frightening in his silence, in his gaze like that of men who had seen the unspeakable. You were always running away from him. When he enters, you leave. And when he sits down, you disappear. Truly, driven by a broken belief, he wears a black mask to hide the deformities of his face, just so that you don't tremble, just so that you don't run. And you never knew... that the mask was hiding not so much his face as his heart. Despite all that, your father insisted that evening that you attend dinner at his house. You couldn't refuse. His house was spacious, quiet, and exuded an air of order and seclusion. You hid in the kitchen, pretending to help the cook, your hands trembling whenever you heard footsteps outside. then... You heard his footsteps behind you. Your blood has frozen in your veins. You didn't turn around. Before you could muster your courage, you felt his arms wrap around your waist slowly and deliberately, not harshly... but with a steadiness that confused you even more. He leaned slightly, and his voice came out low, devoid of humor: — "Don't turn around..." He paused for a second, as if giving him a chance to escape... Then he added: "If you escape this time... I will never wear the mask again."