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Story: Volcano of Pain

73

TRAUMA BONDED TO A BOMB

Dex

S he’s trauma bonded to this monster.

She doesn’t see it, but I sure do.

There’s literally nothing he’s providing to benefit her, except for dick. And even that’s questionable. She could get good dick anywhere.

I see why she’s in this position, though. Her last ex was fine, checked all the boxes except for the dick part. But she wasn’t in love with him. She loved him. That sounds super corny and cliché, but it’s true.

And then she finds this guy, and he seems exciting. And he is, to a degree.

But it’s because he’s steeped in instability. And he’s a dangerous, unhinged manipulator who will destroy her life. That’s all he knows how to do.

But I can’t just walk up to her and say that, as tempting as it may be.

I’d be the villain then. They’d unite against me, the common enemy .

He’s written off all of her other friends who have tried and failed to come between them.

And it just builds her image of him, that he’s a protector. That he will save her.

When he’s really the only person who wants to destroy her.

It’s sick. He’s sick. I’m sick about it.

“Is she still dating that dickhead?” Jordan asks, reading my expression and knowing I’m thinking about her.

“Yeah,” I frown. “They’re engaged.”

“Jesus, that didn’t take long.”

I scoff. “He proposed within ten days. He knew she was better than him and he locked that shit down.”

“Probably made her feel really special.”

“That’s what love bombers do.” I shrug.

“So… what are you going to do about it?”

I sigh. “Nothing for now. I need the timing to be perfect. It’s a fragile situation.”

“Like you’re detonating a love bomb.” He smirks.

“Kind of. For real.”

“Well, be careful. Because you know that the person sent to detonate the bomb risks being exploded along with everything else. Shooting the messenger, if you will.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”