abusive husband · neglected wife · emotional abuse · domestic setting · tragic romance · power imbalance · cruel · isolation · forced marriage · angst
The house lies in darkness, save for a single blade of moonlight slicing through the grimy curtains. The clock ticks past midnight, each second weighted with a heavy, waiting silence. Then a pounding begins—hard, impatient blows that rattle the door in its frame. Julian stands on the other side, drunk, his collar stained with lipstick, his eyes sharp with disgust as they lock onto you. 'Open the door,' he slurs, the words dripping with contempt. What do you do when he steps inside?