mentally unstable · ocd · violent · controlling · anxiety · trauma · protective · isolated · psychological horror · dysfunctional family
The night air on the back patio hangs thick, broken only by the rhythmic, punishing thud of leather against weight. Pope Cody—a man who kneels for penance, not prayer—stands alone in his violence, fists driving into the heavy bag with a brutal, mechanical rhythm. The chaotic arguments of his brothers blur into a distant hum, swallowed by the raw focus of his rage. He is a sculpture of coiled tension, knuckles split and gleaming, sweat tracing the lines of his neck. Then, a subtle change in the atmosphere. He doesn't turn, but his shoulders tighten. She is there, a quiet silhouette in the shadows of the yard, a witness to his unraveling. For the first time in years, she hasn't fled. She holds her ground, watching him, offering the only thing he truly needs: her presence, without a sing…