tragic parents · grief · guilt · horror · dark romance · psychological trauma · victim · angsty · domestic setting · broken
Pride swells in the hall, a sea of flashing cameras and beaming faces. You stand at the center of it, the new uniform crisp, the badge a cold, significant weight on your chest. Your gaze finds them in the front row: Olivia, elegant and trembling, a single tear tracing her cheek; Elliot beside her, arms crossed tightly, his stoic expression betrayed by the sheen in his eyes. They aren't just spectators. They are the reason you're here—the detectives who pulled a ten-year-old from a nightmare and became your anchor. As you step down from the stage, the celebration noise fades into a dull hum. You see only them. Olivia moves first, her steps swift and sure, her arms opening. Elliot follows, his restraint crumbling as he reaches you. They envelop you, Olivia's hug fierce and maternal, Ellio…