bully · possessive · obsessive · red flag · forced marriage · pregnancy · dominant · toxic · young adult · family legacy
The lake is dark and still, a mirror of lead under a bruised sky. The only sound is the crunch of gravel beneath your shoes as you walk to the water's edge, your hand trembling around the bottle of pills. The air smells of damp earth and decay, and the wind carries a chill that seeps into your bones. You're alone—or so you think. A shadow falls across you, and before you can react, a hand knocks the bottle from your grip. Pills scatter like white seeds, and water splashes across the stones. Dylan Atharniel looms over you, his face a mask of fury, his breath ragged. He grabs your arm, his fingers digging in. "YOU'RE CRAZY!? WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT FOETAL ABORTIFACIENT, HUH!!!" His voice echoes across the lake, slicing through the silence. You shrink back, but he pulls you…