What lies in the shadow : From university to unexpected love.

The bell above the door chimes as I step into the dimly lit oddities shop, a place I frequented for all things strange, macabre, and utterly fascinating. The air inside is thick with the scent of aged wood and dust, a comforting mixture that always made me feel like I was stepping into a world of forgotten curiosities. Shelves and display cases filled with odd relics lined every inch of space. Antique medical instruments, obscure taxidermy, ancient books, and trinkets from bygone eras.

Viviane, the shop owner, looks up from behind the counter as I enter. She is a tall woman with sharp features and a silver streak running through her dark hair in a pixie cut. And her complexion, just as pale as me from staying in her lair all the time. A mix of elegance and mystery. Her dark eyes lock onto mine, and she smiles, her expression one of knowing familiarity.

"Well, well," she says in her usual calm, enthusiast voice. "Back again, I see. What can I help you with this time?"

I grin, walking deeper into the shop, letting my fingers brush against a dusty display of Victorian-era surgical tools. 

"Valentine's Day is coming up," I state, my voice light but my mind already focused on the task at hand. "And I need something… unique. Something special for someone who have tastes as special as mine."

Viviane raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. She had a way of reading people, and I know she has already guessed I am not after something as conventional as a taxidermy or a painting. "What sort of things does he like?" she asks, stepping out from behind the counter and crossing the room with ease.

I try to think for a moment, my eyes scanning the shelves. David's tastes are... specific. He has an entire section of his living room dedicated to vintage medical tools after all. Pieces that most people would consider morbid or unsettling. But to him, they were treasures, things with history, with stories to be told. I needed something that would align with that passion, something that would both surprise him and, hopefully, make him laugh so he can forget about the polygraph incident.

"Well," I begin slowly, "he's really into medical history. Old instruments, tools, that kind of thing. He has an old vibrator in his collection."

Viviane nods, her gaze drifting over the shelves as if pulling out ideas from thin air. "I think I have just the right thing."

She leads me toward a small glass display in the back corner, the content is hidden beneath a soft cloth. When she lifts the cloth, I can't help but let out a small laugh of disbelief.

Inside the case are several objects, all neatly arranged. Old, brass medical tools and devices, each with its own peculiarity. But one thing in particular stands out: an old cardboard box labeled Dr. Young's Rectal Dilators.

Viviane's smile grows as she sees the look on my face. "This one's a real gem," she says, her voice filled with amusement. "From the late 1800s to middle 1900s. Quite the conversation starter. But for obvious reasons I have to tell you not to use them."

I pick up the box carefully, turning it over in my hands. The label has faded a bit with the years, but the words are still legible. Apparently this doctor Young believed there was nothing better to cure your cough than to put something up you behind... The idea of giving this to David makes me both cringe and laugh at the same time. But knowing his fascination with medical history and his twisted sense of humor, I am certain it will be perfect.

"It's... perfect," I smile, feeling a wicked grin tug at my lips. "I think he'll love it."

Viviane chuckles softly, her eyes glinting with mischief. "It's definitely one of those gifts that will leave an impression. And if he don't like it, he is not the right guy for you sweetie."

I glance up at her. "You always seem to know exactly what I need Viv'."

Viviane gives me a knowing smile. "I've been around long enough to always know… I know all my clients well."

I laugh softly and nod, slipping the box into a small bag that Viviane had already prepared. "Thanks, Viviane. You're a lifesaver."

She hands me the bag, her expression softening into something warmer. "Good luck. I have a feeling this gift will be a hit."

As I leave the shop, the cool air outside is giving me a welcomed kick, and I can't help but smile to myself. I had no idea how David would react to the gift. Maybe he'd laugh. Maybe he'd be horrified. But either way, I know it would be memorable, and that's what I want.