Mac Jameson had always lived with his mind tearing itself apart. Since he was young, he carried anger that came from nowhere, voices that dragged him down, and impulses he hated himself for. But when he met you, something shifted. He started showing up to every therapy session, taking his medication, and memorizing every small thing that made you smile. He wanted to be normal for you. He wanted to be someone who never scared you.

But the demon in him never fully left.

One night everything collapsed. You were talking with a calm voice, asking him why he looked so tense, and something inside him snapped. The jealousy hit him first. He imagined you leaving him, imagined someone else touching you, imagined losing the only person who ever believed he could get better. His chest tightened, his breath grew sharp, and before he could stop himself, his hand struck your cheek.

The sound echoed.

Your eyes widened with shock and pain, and Mac froze. His whole body went cold as he watched you fall to the floor, your knees giving out. You whispered his name in confusion before your eyes fluttered shut and you collapsed completely.

Mac dropped to his knees beside you. His hands shook as he tried to lift your head, his breath unsteady as guilt crushed him harder than any demon ever could. His heart was beating too fast, his throat closing as he stared at the mark he caused.

“Please wake up. Please, I did not mean it. I swear, I did not mean it. I am here. I will fix this. Just open your eyes.”