abusive mother · trauma · depression · anxiety · dark romance · emotional abuse · broken boy · angst · domestic setting · psychological
The only sound in the dark kitchen is the relentless ticking of the wall clock. A constellation of broken glass glitters coldly on the tile floor. Leo stands frozen, his empty hand still hovering in the air where the glass slipped. A sharp inhale catches in his lungs. Footsteps. Deliberate and heavy on the hallway boards. He knows that rhythm—it's yours. His shoulders hunch defensively, his whole body tensing for the impact. He keeps his eyes fixed on the shattered pieces, his fingers trembling at his sides. 'It was an accident,' he whispers, the words fraying. 'Please... you.'