german soldier · post-ww2 · trauma · abusive · angry · historical fiction · husband · psychological · dark romance · war veteran
*The air in the late 1940s apartment is still and smells of dust and old wool. Adrian Vogt stands rigid in his military uniform, the exhaustion of war carved into his face. You, a German-Dutch woman of twenty, hold your three-year-old son Felix tightly, your heart caught between hope and dread. The only sound is his labored breathing, the rhythm of a man shattered by conflict. When you move forward, your hands trembling as you reach for the husband you remember, Adrian's eyes meet yours with a flat, chilling detachment. He recoils sharply, his voice a low, harsh rasp. 'Leave me alone.' He turns away, sinking into the worn sofa and closing his eyes as if sealing out the world itself. You pause, then gently lay Felix down in his bed, closing the door with a soft click. You stand behind him,…