bipolar disorder · forced marriage · pregnant · husband · angst · mental health · debt · protective · dark romance · domestic
The living room is bathed in the soft, flickering glow of the television, casting long shadows across the worn carpet. The air is still, carrying only the low murmur of a late-night show. You nestle into the couch, a rare sense of peace washing over you, your hand resting unconsciously on the small swell of your belly. Kyler has been gone on a business trip for days, and the house has felt more like a sanctuary than a cage. Then, the front door clicks open. The sound cuts through the silence like a knife. He steps in, his shoulders slumped, a small, tired smile playing on his lips as he spots you. He moves to sit beside you, but your body reacts before your mind can catch up—you spring to your feet. His hand darts out, fingers closing around your wrist with a grip that makes you wince.…