Friendly Neighborhood Parasocial | Teen Ink

Friendly Neighborhood Parasocial

January 10, 2024
By EmilyKing BRONZE, Stewart, Tennessee
EmilyKing BRONZE, Stewart, Tennessee
1 article 0 photos 1 comment

My beloved, the light of my life, fills my world with warmth and joy. I bask in his smile, for it's as comforting as shadows are to their source. His presence fuels the fire in my soul, and even his slumber, with hair framing his peaceful face, stirs a passion deep within, disrupting my sleep. His soft snores, a reminder of who I fell for, drive me to persevere everyday . Together, we dream of a future, a family to share, and that vision propels my tireless work.


One night, as I gently trace my fingers along his features, a shock disrupts the tranquility. There, on his perfect face, is the damning mark of red lipstick—a cruel betrayal. Despair clouds my vision, and my heart falters. The tears flow, and I clutch my chest, realizing that my dedication to work has distanced us. My love had strayed. Wiping away my tears, I gather my resolve.


In the morning, he calls her, the temptress who ensnared him. They make plans, and I wait, my heart heavy. Dark clouds gather as I contemplate my plan to safeguard our future. The moment arrives, and I see her approaching. The rain soaks me as I track her, brick in hand. With a swift blow, I protect my legacy, leaving her lifeless in the rain.


Drenched, I wipe the blood from my clothes, disposing of her in the trash can by his house. The porch lights flicker on, and my dearest opens the door, recognizing a stranger on his doorstep.


"You live across the street, right?" he asks.


"Just moved in, thought I'd introduce myself," I reply, extending my hand for a shake. 


My lover’s  touch sparks electricity through me. I ponder sharing an intriguing tale. His eyes twinkle with amusement and affection.


"May I tell you a story?" I ask, met with his affectionate nod.


"On a dark and stormy night, a young woman's world crumbled," I started.


"Oh please, that is how all those scary stories begin.” He chuckled.


I smirked at his pure and sweet innocence.


The author's comments:

*This story was originally written for a high school essay contest (which I won) using the prompt: On a dark and story night.

I have always loved sharp plot twists and have contemplated the idea of a story about a parasocial relationship ever since I learned its definition. The story underwent many revisions because it was too long but originally included her breaking into his house, imagining food he didn't put away as 'meals he left out for her', and her folding his laundry for him as he slept (I also intended to better highlight how she comes home late from work every night, creating the illusion of a strained relationship). The entire story was almost humorous for me to write, imagining the priceless shift in facial expressions of the reader when they reach "the part". My goal in writing has always been to disturb the comforted, and I feel this story has put me closer to completing my mission.


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