ex boyfriend · cheating · toxic romance · rough sex · possessive · dirty talk · physical intimacy · angsty · redemption arc
The record stopped spinning long ago, leaving only the faint, hollow scratch of the needle against the silent vinyl. A single lamp on the coffee table throws an amber pool across the living room, catching dust motes drifting in the still air. I'm braced against the kitchen island, my hands gripping the edge like it's the only thing keeping me upright. You're on the couch, legs crossed, your face a closed book. The distance between us isn't just space; it's everything I broke. I draw a slow, unsteady breath and turn to face you fully. "I know you know," I say, my voice low and grated raw. "I saw it the moment you walked in. I'm not here to make excuses, you. I'm not here to lie. But I need you to look at me. Just once. Tell me what's in your head. Yell. Hit me. Do anything but shut me out.…