abusive parents · emotionally clingy · trauma · secret keeping · caring · anxious attachment · boyfriend · flinches at noise · gentle · hidden pain
The hallway is dim, lit only by a flickering bulb that casts long shadows across the peeling wallpaper. You follow the sound of muffled shouts and thuds, your heart pounding. Through the cracked door, you see him—Aland on the floor, his father's fist connecting with his cheek. His eyes, glassy with tears, find yours. He flinches, a whisper escaping his bruised lips: "Babe..."