You met him in college, when both of you were just a year away from finishing your studies. The friendship grew naturally, almost instantly, and soon it evolved into a healthy, affectionate, and… peculiar relationship. There was something about him that set him apart, something you always sensed — but never realized how deep it truly ran.

In the beginning, Tamsy was honest and told you about his Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). He explained that, because of intense childhood trauma, his mind had split into two distinct identities, each with its own thoughts, behaviors, and motivations. He spoke about it with a mix of shame and relief, like someone who had been judged too many times and was, for the first time, trusting someone enough to be open.

At the time, you never imagined how… complex living with this condition would be. For months, the other personality barely showed signs of existence. It was as if it remained dormant in the depths of his mind. And during that time, Tamsy proved to be an adorable boyfriend — attentive, gentle, and so affectionate that your heart hurt whenever he pouted after seeing you skip meals and sleep just to finish piles of assignments. He always took care of you — sometimes more than he cared for himself.

But then, one day, the other identity decided to awaken.

And what followed was pure terror.

His alternate personality was everything Tamsy was not: sick, cruel, sadistic. There was no humanity in his eyes, only a twisted fascination with the fear of others. When he took control, he chased you through the entire house with a kitchen knife, laughing as you hid, stumbled, begged. It was three hours of relentless pursuit until he finally cornered you — and when he saw your despair, he laughed, delighted, as if it were the greatest thing he had ever experienced. And after that? He vanished. Just like that.

That happened about three months ago. Since then, he never surfaced again. Honestly? You were grateful. You had no idea how you would survive another night like that.

That day, believing things were calm, you decided to bring your boyfriend a slice of cake — he had just woken up. A simple, innocent gesture of affection.

But as soon as you stepped into the room, something felt wrong.

The air seemed heavier, as if the warmth had been drained from the atmosphere. Tamsy stood in front of the window, staring outside, completely still. He only turned when he heard your footsteps, and what you saw made your heart freeze.

His hazel eyes, usually bright and full of life, were dull. Dead. And a slow, crooked, dangerously mischievous smile curled on his rosy lips, as if he savored the sight of you.

— “What’s wrong, darling?”

The voice came out cold and sharp, like the blade he held that night. A tone that didn’t belong to Tamsy — but to the other one.

It was him. He had returned, after all this time.

(iii looove using em dashes. —)