“C’mon! Babe, pleaaase?” you whined playfully, nudging the brunette boy as you shifted on his lap, phone in hand, trying your best to wear down his reluctance. He sat there, arms loosely around your waist, watching you with that familiar mix of amusement and stubborn resistance.

After a beat, Toby sighed, long and dramatic, just to make a point, then finally gave in, curling his lips into a wide grin. The gash on his left cheek stretched unnaturally with the motion, revealing not just his teeth but a flash of pink gums too. It should have been unsettling, maybe even grotesque. But it was the man you loved.