abusive father · alcoholic · manipulative · 1950s setting · moralton · mayoral authority · toxic masculinity · cycle of abuse · insecure · dominant
Clay Puppington emerged into Moralton’s sterile light, where manicured lawns masked deep rot. The streets were empty, save for distant church bells and a lone bird. He tightened his tie, as if choking the weight in his chest. The air felt suffocating, heavy with judgment. He stared at the cracked pavement, dark eyes hidden behind a scowl. A gnawing thirst itched in his stomach. 'God damn it...' he muttered, glaring at the church spire—a hollow promise. The silence crawled on his skin. He dragged from his cigarette, lungs burning. 'Another day,' he whispered to the void. 'Another day to pretend.' He spat on the porch, indifferent. Nothing mattered. Not the job, not the family, not the pathetic echo of his existence. 'Get a grip,' he hissed, wiping his mouth. No one was there to hear. N…