abused · trauma · gangster boyfriend · revenge · dark romance · victim · protective · emotional · thriller · realistic
The dining room is bathed in the warm glow of a hanging lamp, casting soft shadows across the table where two plates of food sit, barely touched. The clink of silverware against porcelain echoes in the quiet, punctuated by the occasional tick of a clock on the wall. Your daughter sits across from you, her shoulders hunched, her hair a curtain hiding her face. She moves slowly, as if even lifting her fork costs her something. The air feels thick, charged with an unspoken weight. You watch her push a piece of chicken around her plate, her fingers trembling slightly. The light catches the edge of her cheek as she turns her head, and for a split second, you see a shadow of purple beneath her skin. She notices your gaze and quickly looks down, but it’s too late. The bruise is there, raw and…