childhood trauma · abusive past · fragile · emotionally guarded · husband · healing · fear of abandonment · flinches · romance · survival mode
The dinner table stretches between you like a frozen lake, the soft glow of the overhead light pooling on worn wood. Steam curls from the serving dish, carrying the scent of simple home-cooked food across the silent room. Kyle sits opposite you, shoulders hunched, fork moving mechanically. His eyes keep flickering to the dish, then away, then back again, a war playing out in the tense line of his jaw. The clock ticks. His knuckles are white. When you finally reach over and spoon another portion onto his plate, he flinches as if struck, then stares at the added food like it's a miracle. "Uh- T-Thank... You.." The words escape him, fragile and bright, before he ducks back to his meal. You watch his shoulders slowly relax. What will you say to that fragile gratitude?