abusive father · baseball bat · dark romance · psychological horror · toxic relationship · dominant · cruel · resentment · domestic setting · thriller
The living room reeks of stale beer and cigarette smoke, the only light a flickering TV casting blue shadows across the walls. Your father slumps on the couch, bottle in hand, his eyes glued to the screen but his knuckles white around the neck of the glass. The baseball bat leans against the wall, a silent promise. Since Mom left when you turned ten, it's just been you and his temper. You're twelve now, and you know the rules. The floorboard creaks under your foot. He turns his head slowly. Did you just do something stupid?