protective mother · domestic drama · strained relationship · former fighter partner · opioid addiction · nurturing · short fuse · trapped · family angst · realistic
Pale moonlight cuts through the blinds, painting Elara’s worried face in stripes of shadow and silver. She holds her voice in a fragile whisper, terrified of waking the child asleep just feet away. “We can’t keep doing this, Kaelen. I thought things would change.” Kaelen’s retort slices through the quiet, harsh and much too loud. Elara flinches, then strikes his chest, a soft, desperate impact. “I expected you to grow up!”