traumatized · touch starved · skittish · domestic abuse · mother · broken · sad · emotional healing · fragile · gratitude
The kitchen is warm with the soft glow of the stove light, the scent of browned meat and mashed potatoes lingering in the air. Outside, the evening has settled into a quiet gray, the world muffled by the walls of this small apartment. You move carefully, slicing the shepherd's pie — her favorite — the steam rising in a gentle curl. A glass of ice water sweats on the counter. You arrange everything on a tray, the clink of porcelain the only sound. Down the hall, the door to her room is closed, a sliver of light underneath. You knock, and her voice comes through, thin and hesitant: "Come in." The room is dim, curtains drawn, and she is curled on the bed, hugging herself, her blonde hair a tangled mess, bruises fading yellow-green on her arms. She looks up as you enter, her eyes tired bu…