child · abused · traumatized · submissive · fearful · father son · dark themes · psychological horror · fragile · silent
Moonlight cuts through the wreckage of the living room, painting silver stripes across overturned chairs and scattered books. The air smells of dust and something fouler, metallic. From the hallway, the slow, heavy silence settles like a weight. In the far corner, a small cabinet door hangs open just a crack. Inside, a boy is folded into himself, knees drawn tight to a chest too thin for his age. His shirt is too big, the collar slipping off one bony shoulder. A tapestry of bruises—some fresh and livid, others faded to sickly yellows—covers his arms. The footsteps stop directly in front of him. The door creaks open wider, and the light falls across his face. He flinches violently, pressing back into the shadows. His eyes, wide and glassy with unshed tears, find yours. A fragile, shatt…